1931-2013

It is with both love and deep sorrow that we remember a courageous, devout and loving woman, our mother/grandmother Barbara Adeline Marlow (previously of Coeur d’Alene) who passed away Monday, July 1, 2013, in Helena, Mont.

Barbara was graced with a loving family and many close friends. Left to cherish her memory are her children, Orval (Paige) Marlow of Houston, Texas, Michael (Tammy) Marlow of Helena and Joel (Katy) Marlow of Post Falls; grandchildren, Lorri and Lee Marlow, Shane, Nathan and Jack Lermeny, Tanya and Megan Marlow, Taylor, Charisma and Connor Marlow; and great-grandchild Jaxson Michael. Her brother, Gail (Elvia) Stolzenburg and sister Dixie (Charles) Bowen will cherish her memory; as well many nieces and nephews in her extended family. Husband, Jack Marlow (2010) and daughter, Annetta Marlow (Robert Lermeny) (2009) and brother Reo (Rama) Stolzenburg (2011) preceded her in death.

Born on Oct. 17, 1931, to Olive and Martin Stolzenburg in Crookston, Neb. She graduated from Valentine High School in 1950 and went to the Bryan School of Nursing (now known as the Bryan College of Health Sciences) in Lincoln, Neb., for her nursing degree. During nursing school, Barbara stayed at the dormitory for the nurses, which was the Fairview house donated by William Jennings Bryan, who had lived there.

Barbara met Jack Marlow in a Lincoln hospital while working as a nurse and they got married on March 6, 1954, in Herkimer, Kan. She was involved throughout her life in nursing, homemaking, Eastern Star (Worthy Matron), Beauceants (Supreme Worthy President), VFW, American Legion, Union Pacific Railroad Retirees and the Lutheran Church.

She was a nurse in Nebraska, Colorado and Idaho and worked as a scrub nurse, floor nurse and home health nurse. She was always “on call” for family and friend health questions. Her life was a very important lesson on how a person should approach each day with love, compassion and God in their heart. Her tireless approach to life was inspiring. Always optimistic, there was never a “bad day” and she loved her ever-busy lifestyle. For more fun, she was a great cook, avid reader, bowler, dog sitter extraordinaire for the family pet, Sugar, and a fisherwoman. She always remembered everyone’s birthday and anniversaries in the extended Marlow family. She had survived many adversities in her life including a house explosion in Ellis, Kan., in the early 1960s.

Being a woman of deep faith, Barbara spent countless hours at the Lutheran churches in the towns she lived in, always volunteering for lunches, cleanup and greetings, where her bright smile, enthusiasm and unwavering faith in God made her a beloved member of the church community.

After living in Colorado, Kansas, Idaho and Nebraska most of her life, she decided to move to Montana in February 2013, in the middle of a Nebraska blizzard, to be closer to her family and to explore the Big Sky Country.

Her family wishes to embrace all who spent time with Mom during her lifetime. Every moment spent with Mom truly made this world a better place. Though the door to her life on Earth has closed and we will never again be blessed to see her beautiful smile, she will live on in all the lives that she touched. We ask that those who knew her, please extend kindness, joy and love to others in her memory.

Cremation has taken place. Condolences can be sent to The Marlow Family, 83 Spruce Grove Road, East Helena, MT 59635. Donations in her name can be sent to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1000 Helena Ave., Helena, MT 59601.