Marion Leona (Odegard) GABRIELSON

GABRIELSON, ODEGARD, THORSON, LISKA, MENNENGA, OELTJENBRUNS, KING, REID

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/13/2010 at 20:47:29

BELMOND, IA - Marion Leona Gabrielson, age 96, of Belmond died Thursday (March 11, 2010) at her home in Belmond surrounded by the love and care of her family. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 14, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, west of Belmond. The Rev. James Harbaugh will be officiating. Burial will be in the Belmond Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the Andrews Funeral Home, 516 First St. S.E., Belmond, and continue one hour prior to the services at church on Sunday. The family suggests those wishing to express their sympathies through a memorial in Marion's name consider St. Olaf Lutheran Church or a charity of the donor's choice.

Marion was born Jan. 26, 1914, the daughter of Otto and Barbara (Thorson) Odegard at rural Waterville in Allamakee County. She was baptized and confirmed at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church. She attended rural elementary school and graduated from Waterville High School in 1931. Marion was united in marriage to Gerhard Gabrielson of Belmond on Jan. 15, 1938, at St. John's Lutheran Parsonage in Waukon. They farmed more than 30 years in the Belmond and Waukon areas. In 1972, they moved to Waukon and resided there until moving to Belmond in 1978. In addition to farming with her husband, Marion was a lifelong homemaker. Marion was active in the Old Paint Creek and St. Olaf Lutheran Churches and their women's organizations. Her family was most precious to her. She enjoyed baking, genealogy, making quilts, or "magic blankets" as the grandchildren might call them, and growing flowers. She will be remembered in many wonderful ways by those who had the privilege of having her in their lives and the opportunity to cross the path of her life's journey.

Those left to cherish the memory of her life include her son, Dale, and his wife, Kathleen, of Arlington, Tenn.; two daughters, Marjorie Liska of Clear Lake and Margaret Mennenga, and her husband, Larry, of Belmond; seven grandchildren, Duan Mennenga, Daren and wife, Diena, Mennenga, Carolyn Oeltjenbruns, Christine and husband, Brent King, John and wife, Jennifer Gabrielson, Dan and wife, Andrea Gabrielson, and Caroline Reid; 11 great-grandchildren, Jessica and Jamie Gabrielson, Anna and Nathan Oeltjenbruns, Tristan and Ty Mennenga, Brinley, Carly and Benjamin Gabrielson and Wyatt and Alexandra King; a brother, Alf Odegaard, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Gerhard; son, James; grandson, Benjamin Gabrielson; brother, Ray, and his wife, Beulah; sister-in-law, Barbara Odegaard; and son-in-law, Cletus Liska. Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond.

Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa
March 13, 2010