Marietta B. Gunderson

 Marietta B Gunderson (Bartholomaus), 96, of Moorhead, MN, passed away in her home, Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

What makes a life grand and great? For Marietta, it was children. Orvis and Marietta had 6 children all of whose names begin with the letter “L” making it tricky sometimes to spit out which “L” named child she was referring to or requesting to do a task. Often these “L” names were rattled off until the correct name was landed upon bringing about a little laughter which then often led into stories about life in the Gunderson household. Oh, the good old days of camping with the trailers getting bigger as the family grew. Marietta was affectionately coined the pyromaniac because she loved a family campfire making s’mores and popping the campfire popcorn. She was a great baker known for creating elaborate birthday cakes and cakes for school functions. No doubt, her banana bread with chocolate chips was everyone’s favorite. Marietta’s skills as a parent and great baker were perfectly suited for her part-time lunch lady duties at Thomas Edison Elementary School. Marietta “do si doed” with Orvis in their Circle 8 Square Dance Club while also creating lifelong friends through the love of dancing. They formed The Fantastic Four: The Browns, Lyngbys, Phillips, and Gundersons. Retirement led Marietta and Orvis to Mesa, AZ, where they spread their wings into 18 years of snowbird life keeping active with golfing, bowling, dancing, and playing in the Palm Gardens Kitchen Band. What a hoot it was to hear her play her Tide Detergent horn instrument! Retirement summers in Minnesota were spent at Crystal Lake and catching up with family, friends, and grandchildren and often included many games of Uno, Go Fish, Sorry, and dominoes.  Grandma Marietta was not easy to pronounce so her nickname became Grandma Etta. She had a green thumb and enjoyed maintaining her flowers and shrubs. Throughout her life, Etta was an avid sports fan, especially a big fan of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. The “6 Ls” either spent time watching games with her or called and checked in about the outcomes and statistics. If you stopped by for a visit, you would often find chocolate-covered peanut clusters in the freezer or an orange Tupperware container filled with chocolate chip cookies to munch on. For 15 years, Snickers, her toy poodle, was her buddy and loving companion who watched "Days of our Lives" and "The Lawrence Welk Show" and listened to Good Shepherd's church service on the radio along side of her. Etta’s trademark beautiful white hair complimented the soft pastel colors of pink, peach, and baby blue she often wore. Her life of 96 years was grand and great filled with the blessings of 59 years of marriage, 6 children, 9 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren, and oh, so much more that we will cherish in our hearts.

Marietta is survived by two sons, Larry, Moorhead, and Lee (Dawn), Moorhead; four daughters, Lynne (Jerry) Hanten, Wildwood, MO, Lonnie Applegate (Peter Law), Dilworth, MN, Lois (Bruce) Boelter, Fargo, ND, and Lorie Chastain (Doug Kuchenbecker), Fargo, ND; one brother-in-law, Lloyd Gunderson, Moorhead, MN; eight grandchildren, Scott Hanten, Aaron Jefferson (Heidi Arnold), Melissa (Nick) Mazza, Lena (Ryan) Fogel, Chloe (Nick) Nelson, Matt Boelter (Stephanie Garcia), Molly Boelter (Tanner Knutson), Lana (Noah) Robinson;  great grandchildren, Cameron Hanten, Mason Hanten, Colin Hanten, Emmeline Jefferson, Maddie Jefferson, Chelsie Jefferson, Willow Fogel, Winter Fogel, Victoria Fogel, Ella Fogel, and Truen Nelson . She was preceded in death by her parents, 2 brothers, 1 sister, and one grandchild, Gabriel Applegate.

A funeral service will be Wednesday, November 22, 2023, at 11:00 A.M., with visitation for one hour before the service, at Wright Funeral Home in Moorhead, MN. Interment will be at Concordia Lutheran Church Cemetery, Glyndon, MN.

Memorials may be given to the Radio Fund at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Moorhead, MN.