Marilyn Wilson

Marilyn Kay Wilson, 75, of Columbia Falls, was ushered into the presence of her Lord and Savior on March 4, 2014, at North Valley Hospital in Whitefish.

She was born March 19, 1938, in Custer, S.D., the daughter of Kenneth Cowles and Marion (Pierce) Cowles.

Marilyn married R. Cleve Wilson on April 13, 1957. While raising a family, they built their home on Palmer Creek Road at the base of Harney Peak in the Black Hills of South Dakota, largely by themselves. In addition, they started their thriving business of Mostly Rocks while working as wholesale sales representatives in the gift and souvenir industry.

A long, enduring passion of Marilyn’s was fly fishing, which she always enjoyed with her partner Cleve. She was a life-long, ferocious reader, always having three or four books going at the same time. She enjoyed raising and showing Collies and Shelties and was an impressive gardener, particularly with heirloom tomatoes.

Marilyn is survived by Cleve, her husband of 57 years; son Dean Wilson and wife LaVerna, of Greeley, Colo.; son David Wilson, of Rapid City, S.D.; daughter Sharon Heupel and husband Casey, of West Glacier; grandchildren Mistyque Menn and husband Kaleb, and Martina and Logan Heupel; and great grandson Rawson Menn.

A memorial service will be held at the Columbia Mortuary Chapel, in Columbia Falls, on Friday, March 14, at 1 p.m. A reception will follow at Timber Creek Village, 375 Meadow Lake Blvd, in Columbia Falls.

Cleve asks that any memorials be made to the Humane Society of Northwest Montana or to a local Humane Society in memory of Marilyn Wilson.