Marlene G. Duffney

Marlene Grace Duffney passed peacefully at Elim Care Center of Fargo on Monday, January 13, 2020 at the age of 86.

Marlene was born October 2, 1933 to Anna (Tangen) and Alfred T.  Anderson. Marlene’s first couple of years of education were in a one room school house with lifelong friend Ardy Peterson and then continued at Hitterdal School.

Upon graduation Marlene moved to Fargo with Ardy and attended Dakota Business College, worked at Fargo National Bank and married the love of her life, James Duffney, on October 2, 1955.  They were married at Lysne Lutheran Church, the same church Marlene had been baptized and confirmed in.

They relocated to Minneapolis and were blessed with their own family, Kathy and Jayson. Jim was employed at Murphy Motors and Marlene had a home daycare.

In 1962 Jim and Marlene moved to Moorhead and started their own branch of Murphy Motors, Duffney Transfer.  After health issues the business was sold and Marlene was employed in the credit department at Herbst Department store and eventually began working at The Forum as supervisor of classified advertising.  She was very proud of this position and enjoyed it until her retirement.

Marlene loved spending time with family and friends, especially her two great grandchildren and special friend Don Olmstead of 30 years; traveling the world with her main travel companion, sister-in-law Carol; time at Cotton Lake and reminiscing and laughing with her beloved sisters. Marlene was a member at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead.

Marlene is survived by daughter, Kathryn (Dan) Fiandaca and son, Jayson Duffney; granddaughters, Amanda Fiandaca (Justin) Massie and Emalee (Michael) Muhonen; great-grandchildren, Bronson Jaymes Massie and Pia Grace Muhonen; sisters, Alfreda Blakeway and Inez Larson; brothers-in-law, Theodore Tibodeau and Lawrence Humbert; and her very special friend, Donald Olmstead.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Duffney; siblings and in-laws, Melpha and Roy Mattson, Allan and Myrtle Anderson, Elmer Blakeway, Ernest Larson, Arnold and Carol Anderson, Curtis and Carol Duffney, Evelyn Humbert and Arlene Tibodeau; and nephews, Michael Larson, Arnold Anderson and Roger Anderson.

A visitation will be held at Wright Funeral Home on Sunday, January 19, 2020 at 4:00 P.M. with a memorial service to follow at 5:00. 

Donations in Marlene’s memory may be given to Hospice of the Red River Valley.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Elim Care Center for their compassion and wonderful care.