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Marilyn Boles 02/21/2023

Marilyn (Mamie) Mae Boles of Hayward, Wisconsin, and formerly of River Falls, Wisconsin and Bloomington, Minnesota, died Tuesday, February 21, 2023. She was 93 years old.
She was born in Pierce County, Wisconsin, on September 25, 1929, the daughter of Robert and Rose Laue of River Falls, Wisconsin, where Marilyn was raised. She graduated from River Falls High School in 1948. Some of her fondest memories were of growing up in River Falls, where she worked as a lifeguard at the community swimming pool and an usher at the Falls Theater downtown. She attended church activities at the River Falls Congregational Church, where she became a close friend of the youth ministers there during the 1940s, “Mom and Pop” Sheldon. She loved to be referred to by her nickname – “The Flame.”
She married Dean Boles on March 28, 1953. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with their family in 2003. They had two children: Susan (Boles) Odegard of Trego, Wisconsin, and Timothy Boles of Solon Springs, Wisconsin. Mamie loved gardening and had many lovely flowers at the family home she and Dean purchased in 1958 in Bloomington, Minn. She was employed by the McDonald’s Corporation for many years, and she also worked Hardware Hank, both in Bloomington.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Rose Laue; her husband, Dean; and her four siblings: Sybil, Gerald, Richard and Barbara.
She is survived by her daughter, Susan, and her husband, Larry, of Trego; her son, Timothy and his wife, Cindy, of Solon Springs; four grandchildren: Jeremy Odegard and his wife, Teri, of River Falls; Kristina Odegard Geye and her husband, Hunter, of Park Ridge, Illinois; Ben Boles of Solon Springs; and Sara (Boles) Crowley and her husband, Matthew, of Barnes; six great-grandchildren: Emily and Megan Odegard of River Falls, Aria and Archer Geye of Park Ridge, Illinois, and Lia and McKenna Boles of Savage, Minn.; and several other relatives and friends.
She will be remembered for her gift of laughter, her love of family and friends, her green thumb with plants of all kinds, and her adoration for the people and times she experienced in River Falls as a child, teen, and an adult. At every family gathering she would remark “Isn’t it nice to all be together?”
A Funeral Service was held on Friday, February 24, 2023 at 1 pm at Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services 805 E Division Street River Falls, WI and streamed live through the link just below this obituary. Visitation was on Friday from 12 – 1 pm at the funeral home. Interment was in the Greenwood Cemetery in River Falls, WI. Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.

Click here to watch the recording of Marilyn’s Funeral

4 Comments

  • Jeff Gelhaye Posted February 24, 2023 9:50 am

    Sue and family. Please accept my most heartfelt sympathies for your loss… My thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time. May you find God’s presence with you as you journey through the time of grief.

  • Bob and Gloria Gelhaye Posted February 24, 2023 2:14 pm

    Sue, Tim and Families,

    Although we were unable to attend in person, we want you to know that you will remain in our thoughts and prayers, as we extend our sympathy to each of you!

    Mame always warmed our hearts with her bright smile and her contagious laughter.
    She will forever be in your hearts, as you remember the good times spent with her, and you will keep these as treasures forever.
    May God give you his peace in this difficult time.

  • Jeff Bjork Posted February 28, 2023 11:51 am

    I wish I would have know Marilyn, she seems like she was such a treasure to be with and the stories I’m sure she could share would be endless. I don’t think I would have even blinked when she was sharing a story of River Falls. Thoughts and Prayers with the entire Boles family, stay strong and keep your faith.

  • Patty Fulford Posted February 28, 2023 6:31 pm

    I am so sorry to hear about Mamie’s passing. She and Diz were such great friends of my parents Harry and Alice Laufenberg. The few times I had the privilege to be with them, it was a riot, love them 😘. I’m sure the reunion of Diz and Mamie is epic. Hugs to the family

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