Marlene Nelson 81, formerly of Libby

Marlene Nelson, 81, formerly of Libby, died Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, at a Missoula hospital.

Marlene was born at Anaconda, Mont., to Thomas Murray and Thelma (Madsen) Murray on Feb. 19, 1931; she spent the entirety of her childhood in Anaconda where she was raised and educated, attending grade school and graduating from Anaconda High School in 1949.

She married her high school sweetheart, Fred Nelson, on St. Patrick’s Day, 1951, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Missoula.

They resided in Missoula where she served as secretary and office manager of the state Mental Hygiene Clinic under the direction of Dr. Gladys Holmes. They later had resided at Fort Benning, Ga., and Fort Lewis, Wash., while her husband served both at home and abroad with the United States Army.

During her husband’s music teaching career, they first resided in Polson until moving to Libby in 1957, remaining there for many years until moving to Missoula in August 1971 where she and Fred have resided for the past 41 years.

During this time, Marlene devoted the whole of her life to supporting, raising and teaching her growing family and engaging in the life of the communities she and Fred lived in.

A natural and gifted pianist with an extraordinary ear, she enjoyed playing both jazz and classical music as well as being an artist and a writer of both prose and poetry.

Marlene’s talent and skill in cooking and entertaining made her special occasion and holiday celebrations a favorite of friends and family alike.

In later years, she devoted her church service and skills to quilt-making for Christian faith and humanitarian causes.

Surviving her are her husband and best friend of over 60 years, Fred Nelson, of Missoula; her children, Niles Nelson and wife Bobbie of Libby; Dale Nelson of Polson, Mont.; and Grant Nelson of San Diego, Calif.; brother Brian Murray of Santa Cruz, Calif.; grandchildren Dale and Christopher; Lisa and Jennifer and Caitlin and Lindsey; and great grandchildren Lauren, Jesse, Eric, Isaiah and Sophie.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at St. Paul Lutheran Church with Pastor Chris Flohr officiating; rite of committal will follow at Missoula Cemetery. Following committal, everyone is invited to a reception at the church.

Friends may call at Garden City Funeral Home from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday.

Online condolences may be made at www.missoulafuneralhomes.com

The family wishes to recognize and thank the entire staff of the second floor of Community Medical Center for their kind and compassionate care during Mom’s final days.