Marilyn Manning passed away November 3, 2015 at the age of 76.
A celebration of her life will be held on Tuesday, November 10 from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home in Prior Lake. Marilyn will be laid to rest at West Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Star Prairie, Wisconsin with Rev. Rex Brandt presiding.
Star Prairie always held a special place in Marilyn’s heart. Many of Marilyn’s family on her father’s side lived and are buried there.
On February 27, 1939 Marilyn Barbara Ann Molstad was born to Lawrence and Mary DeMaris (Thompson) Molstad. Marilyn was the oldest of three children and enjoyed a very happy childhood in Minneapolis with her siblings, Nancy and Larry. As a family they enjoyed frequent visits with relatives in Grantsburg, Star Prairie in WI as well as in Willmar and Floodwood, MN.
As a young girl, Marilyn developed a passion for books and enjoyed the places it allowed her to travel through their pages.
After graduating from Minneapolis Southwest High School, Marilyn greatly enjoyed her work for small, local airlines. It gave her an opportunity to pursue her independence and explore new places, such as New York City, where she lived for a period of time.
Soon after, Marilyn met Carroll Manning. They exchanged wedding vows at The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepard on May 9, 1959. Marilyn and Carroll were blessed with two wonderful daughters, Pamela and Paula. They lived in the Minneapolis area, including St. Louis Park, eventually settling in Bloomington to raise their family.
When the girls were young, Marilyn held the job title of full-time mother. As a family, they enjoyed trips out West and family time at cabins up North. In later years, one cherished vacation was a houseboat adventure with family on Lake Powell in Arizona. Marilyn and her mother loved exploring local garage sales and antique shops together. Whenever possible, Marilyn enjoyed a good game of playing 500.
Friday nights the family spent time with Marilyn’s parents and she loved the special family holiday gatherings with all their traditions. There was a feeling of family in nearly everything Marilyn did.
Once the girls were older, Marilyn began working away from home. She worked for Hennepin County helping local residents find employment. This was a fitting job for Marilyn because she loved helping others.
Marilyn was supportive and proud of her girls, encouraging them to pursue their interests. She always had a deep love of animals and when Paula began showing horses and training dogs, Marilyn was by her side every step of the way. She bought Pam her first guitar and sacrificed to give her lessons. Marilyn was also proud to pass on her passion for reading not only to Pam but also to her three grandsons.
She tried to make dreams come true, not only for her daughters but also for her grandsons. It was Grandma Marilyn who introduced the boys to the new world of technology giving them their first computer and first video game system.
After 24 years of marriage, Carroll and Marilyn went their separate ways. Marilyn moved to Cottonwood, Arizona. She loved the warm weather, beautiful scenery and being near her parents who were also living there.
Shortly after moving to Cottonwood, Marilyn met Walter “Brad” Bradley. They hit it off and became partners in life and business. Together they opened a bookstore called Bradmar Books in Sedona. Marilyn turned her passion for reading into her dream job.
Marilyn also was employed, and retired from, Yavapai County where she worked for many years as a financial worker and intake coordinator.
Marilyn’s favorite class in school was history. That interest continued throughout her life. She enjoyed learning about ancient civilizations and visited many of the Indian ruins that surrounded her in Arizona.
Marilyn made many dear friends during those years with Brad in Arizona. She pursued her passion for animals by breeding Golden Retrievers and raised several litters of pups over the years. She dearly loved her Golden Retrievers, Quana, Raina, Nicky, Sierra, Tina and Riley.
In 2009, Marilyn and Brad moved back to Minnesota so Marilyn could be closer to her girls and siblings. A few years later, Brad had to move home to California to be closer to his family. Marilyn missed him deeply. Her beloved dog Tanner became her constant companion.
Marilyn was a kind, sweet, loving woman with an independent, gentle spirit. She will be deeply missed and remembered always by her daughters, Pamela (Kim) Clifford and Paula (Colin Williams) McGranahan; grandsons, Luke (Jessica) Preiner, Joseph (Brianne) Preiner and Levi Preiner; her partner, Walter “Brad” Bradley; siblings, Nancy Molstad Jepson and Larry (Joline) Molstad; special niece, Lindsey; and other loving relatives, friends and her beloved dog, Tanner.
There to greet Marilyn into Heaven are her parents, Lawrence and Mary DeMaris Molstad; son-in-law, Bob McGranahan; brother-in-law, William Jepson; nephew, Jon Molstad.
