Marilyn J. Mounger

Marilyn Joy (Lunder) Mounger was born on August 13, 1923 to May (Bublitz) and Nels J. Lunder of Dale, MN. She was their third child, being preceded by brother, Bobbie, and sister, Marjorie.  Marilyn attended school in a one-room school near Dale, high school in Hawley, MN, and graduated from Moorhead State College in 1945 with a Bachelor of Science degree.  She worked in Fargo; Detroit, MI; and later got her first teaching job in Karlstad, MN. While she was in college (early 1944), she met Eddie Mounger (an Army Air Force Cadet) at a school dance. They dated and were married in Spokane, WA on August 30, 1947.  Marilyn taught school in Pullman, WA while Eddie finished college.  They both taught school in Wapato, WA, and Marilyn taught in Minneapolis, MN, where Eddie had a cabinet shop.

In 1957, they moved to Newfolden, MN, where they both taught for 8 years and, in 1965, they moved to the Lunder Farm located between Hawley and Lake Park.  Marilyn taught Head Start and, later, 4^th grade in Hawley, earned a Fifth Year Degree in Reading and Special Education from Moorhead State College, and finished her teaching career in Hawley in 1982.  In 1974, she was nominated for Teacher of the Year for the State of Minnesota

A few months prior to Eddie’s death in 2002, they celebrated their 55^th wedding anniversary. One year after Eddie’s death, Marilyn sold the farm and bought a home in Hawley, where she lived until 2013, when she moved to an assisted living apartment in Moorhead, MN.

Marilyn enjoyed her dogs, gardening, dancing with Eddie, and playing music.  After retiring, she led a country western band, playing for dances in northwestern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota. She also performed as a duo and sang and played keyboard as entertainment for nursing homes, community events and anniversaries. Marilyn was a longtime member of Eksjo Lutheran Church, where she sang in the choir.

Marilyn died Friday, March 2, 2018, in Family Tree Homes, Rogers, MN at the age of 94.

Marilyn is survived by her son, Scott Mounger, Rogers, MN; her daughter, Marylee Mounger, Hermiston, OR; grandson, Brant Mounger, Brooklyn, NY; and granddaughter, Arianne Freuler, Lake Oswego, OR, and numerous nephews and nieces.  She leaves friends Pat and Kurt Ketterl, Hawley, MN and their children, Janae and Deana, who were Marilyn’s adopted grandchildren, as well as Linda Olson, Moorhead, MN.

Marilyn is predeceased by her husband, Guy Edwin (Eddie) Mounger (2002) and her siblings, Bobbie and Marjorie.

Marilyn was much loved for her kindness and caring and will be deeply missed.

Funeral will be Tuesday March 6, at 1:00 p.m., at Eksjo Lutheran Church, rural Lake Park, MN.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.

Interment: Dale Immanuel Cemetery, rural Hawley, MN.