Marlos Ann Ferris

Marlos Ann (Hanson) Ferris was born on August 15, 1934, at her home in Smiley Township, right outside of Thief River Falls, Minnesota. She was the second oldest of the siblings, who were all delivered by midwives at their home. Marlos and her older brother, Duane, and younger siblings, who were also twins, Lila and Lois, lived on a farm, with plenty of animals. Her father, Rudolph (Rudy), along with Duane, tended to the farming, while her mother, Agnes, taught at the local elementary school.

Marlos graduated in 1952 and started working as a secretary in a local law firm. She then went on to work for Sears and Roebucks. Marlos was also involved in many clubs and activities during this time, ranging from athletics to academics and the arts. She would also learn to play the piano and sing in various groups.

It was during the engagement/wedding period of her sister, Lila, that Marlos met the man she would eventually marry, Richard Patrick (Pat) Ferris. The meeting was an inevitability since Lila’s fiancé (Lou), happened to be best friends with Pat, both having gone to high school together in Moorhead, and attended Moorhead State University together, where they played football and were members of the Owl fraternity. Marlos and Pat began to date, but there would soon be a big change, Pat needed to move to California, which presented challenges. Marlos decided she would also move out to California, driving the entire way by herself, through the mountains and desert, and every other topography that presented itself. Being the 1950's, this is certainly an indicator of her independence and daring, which she would continue to display during her adult years. She found an office/bookkeeping job in Los Angeles and maintained an apartment in Inglewood, close to where Pat lived. They eventually got engaged. The time spent in Southern California, during this period, was filled with many of the activities Southern California was known for (the beach, visiting beach towns and amusement parks). They decided to have the wedding back in Minnesota, in Thief River Falls, with the intention of returning to Los Angeles (Inglewood).

After they returned to California, Marlos continued to work in bookkeeping for a company across town, while her husband, Pat, taught in Watts, and taught at the University of Southern California, while also taking graduate classes. Roughly a year later, Marlos would give birth to their only child, Daniel Patrick Ferris, on September 1, 1962. After a breech birth, it would be discovered that there were issues with their son involving a form of craniosynostosis. This would involve an expensive and dangerous operation, which was only thought to provide a fifty percent chance of survival. The operation proved to be successful, being just one of many challenges that Marlos and Pat would face in California.

A few years of natural disasters later, Marlos and Pat moved back to Minnesota, where they made their home in Prior Lake. Marlos continued to pursue bookkeeping at a nearby company, while Pat taught English at Prior Lake High School, where Dan would eventually go to school. In addition to attending many of their son’s activities, they became very involved in Shepard of the Lake Lutheran Church. Pat would become President of the Council, while Marlos was involved in hymn selection and other areas that involved music.

Eventually their son, Dan, would go off to college, and Pat and Marlos continued to be involved with the community and church. Marlos’ job of many years would move out of state, and she started working for Prior Lake State Bank. She loved her job in the accounting realm and made many good friends along the way. It was not just a job, but a way to be a part of the community. Prior Lake State was constantly involved in community events, and she was a part of all of them.

In 1985, changes would come at a furious pace which would have been hard for anyone to persevere through; Marlos, however, did so with grit and grace. Not that there weren’t times that seemed hopeless, but she battled on. Their son, Dan, after college, moved down to the Virgin Islands to teach. Within a few weeks, her husband, Pat, passed away from a heart attack that occurred when the two were sleeping. Life for Marlos and her son, had just turned inside out. Dan, in addition to coming back for the funeral, moved back home in a few months to provide support for Marlos. This was just the beginning of a series of losses that Marlos and her family would have to endure. In a matter of a couple of years, they would lose their father, Rudy, their brother, Duane, their mother, Agnes, and Agnes’ sister (Marlos’ aunt), Signe.

Marlos did not quit or falter. She continued to work, garden, and be involved with her church. Over a year later, she became a mother-In-law, when Dan married Kristi Heyer, and the couple chose to live in Bloomington. She soon started traveling with local tour groups and family to places all over Europe. She also spent weekends with her son and his wife at their cabin in northern Wisconsin. The various destinations allowed her to see and experience the beauty in the world and became a source of healing.

Eventually, Marlos would retire from the bank at 80 years old. She loved Prior Lake and chose to stay in her house, where she spent many, many, hours tending to the garden and yard, while still doing projects with the church and traveling with friends. She saw Dan and Kristi on a regular basis, since they still lived in the metro area, often going to theater events or gathering with other members of the family or friends.

After a few years, Marlos decided it was time to leave the duties of maintaining a house behind and moved into a much lower maintenance condominium. Unfortunately, after a short stay at the condo, Marlos’ dementia worsened, proving a need to move into Praha Village Assisted Living in New Prague, where her sister, Lois, also lived. Marlos battled the disease with everything she had, establishing that she is one of the toughest people that was put on this planet. Marlos, throughout her life, toughed out an appendicitis and a stroke, along with broken limbs, illness, and depression. Sadly, her body eventually succumbed to the ravaging impact of dementia, and she passed away on June 6, 2026, while in hospice at Praha Village. Before she passed, even though it was obvious that the disease was taking its toll, she remained the same thoughtful, life-loving, caring mother, that she always had been. She even managed to keep her sense of humor, when that is often what is stripped of a person who is inflicted with dementia. All who knew her were quickly aware of her wit and her love of laughter.

Marlos was preceded in death by her husband, Pat Ferris, her parents, Rudolf and Agnes Hanson, and her sibling, Duane Hanson. She is survived by her son Daniel Ferris (Kristi), her siblings Lois Church and Lila Johnson, and her nieces and nephews.

Marlos Ferris’ Celebration of Life will be held on June 24 (Wednesday) at Shepherd of the Lake Church in Prior Lake. Visitation will run from 1-2pm followed by the service, from 2-3 pm. Dessert will be served in the Gathering Hall following the service. Pastor Jonathan Rundman will preside.