Marilynn Arhart, 78

Marilynn Joyce Arhart, a devoted wife, loving mother, proud grandmother and cherished friend, passed away peacefully on Oct. 20, 2025, leaving behind a legacy rooted in love, faith, and quiet strength.

She was born on Dec. 1, 1946, in Stuart, Iowa, to Kenneth and Esther (Swanson) Gaskill. From her earliest days, Marilynn’s gentle spirit and unwavering kindness shaped a life defined by deep relationships and heartfelt care for others.

On Aug. 27, 1967, she married the love of her life, Lloyd Arhart, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee, Iowa. Their marriage was one of deep affection, respect and true companionship. Together, they built a life centered around family, hard work, laughter and love — a partnership that served as a steady foundation for everyone around them.

In 1978, Marilynn and Lloyd moved their young family to South Dakota, where they raised their children with strong values and deep love. In 1994, after decades of shared experiences and dreams, they looked forward to a new chapter in life and moved to Montana. Tragically, that next chapter was cut short when Lloyd passed away unexpectedly, not long after their move. Though heartbroken, Marilynn carried forward his memory with strength and grace, holding tightly to the love they had built over a lifetime. Marilynn remained in Montana, finding comfort in the mountains, her gardens, her faith and the love of her family.

She is survived by their three children, who were the pride of her life: Neal (Lisa) Arhart of Gillette, Wyoming; Kent (Viki) Arhart of Pierre, South Dakota and Angela Reeves (Bill Sorenson) of Columbia Falls.

She was a proud and devoted grandmother to seven grandchildren: Rebecca (DJ) Velikaneye, Kaitlynn (Thomas) Moss, Bridgette (Damien) Hill, Megan Arhart, Abigail Arhart, Kiara Reeves (Nathan Hader) and Dakota (Skyler) Reeves. Her joy only grew with the arrival of six great-grandchildren: Isabella, Sebastian, Aiden, Theodore, Ashton and Landon.

Marilynn was preceded in death by her beloved husband Lloyd; her parents Kenneth and Esther and her brothers, Kenneth and Russell. She was also preceded in death by her father- and mother-in-law, Paul and Edna Arhart; her brother-in-law, Dale Arhart and Wayne, the late husband of her sister-in-law Carol.

She is lovingly remembered by her surviving siblings: Donald, Esther, Janet and Melba; her sister-in-law Carol Blake; many nieces and nephews, her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and honorary family members Shiloh and Carmen Keibler and their children, Dauglas, Shalynn, and Cassidy.

Known for her love of reading, flower gardening, and games on her tablet, Marilynn found joy in the simple things. But above all else, her heart was always with her family. She lived for time spent with those she loved — whether around a dinner table, in quiet conversation, or sharing a laugh in the living room.

Though she faced sorrow, Marilynn lived a life full of love and strength. Her devotion to Lloyd endured through every season of her life and her love continues through the generations of family she nurtured. Her story is not only one of enduring love and quiet courage, but also of a heart that never stopped giving.

Her legacy lives on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.

We invite family and friends to join us in celebrating the beautiful life of Marilynn Arhart on Friday, Nov. 28th at 11 a.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Columbia Falls.