Marlenea Kay Boykin, 58

Marlenea gained her wings after an 8-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. 

She passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home in Kalispell, on Feb. 26, 2024, with her daughter and son-in-law by her side. She leaves irreplaceable voids in our hearts. 

Marlenea was born Jan. 30,1966, to Gary and Patti Auch in Mitchell, South Dakota joining her two sisters. When Marlenea was the age of 2 they moved to Libby, Montana. 

Growing up Marlenea spent a lot of time camping and fishing. Often they were out at the Thompson Chain of Lakes as well as Glacier National Park. While in Glacier they spent most of their time at Kintla and Bowman Lake. 

Marlenea attended Libby High School and graduated with the class of 1984. They were a close group of classmates and she made lifelong friendships. Marlenea was married on Feb. 18, 1984, to William Boykin. One year later, they would welcome their only daughter Cassi. 

Many years later Marlenea and Bill parted ways but continued to raise Cassi together. Marlenea was a hard worker she sometimes worked many jobs at one time. She worked as a cashier at Save Right West for many years. In 2004 she was hired on at Costco part-time in Kalispell, she continued to work at Save Right and Costco and commuted between Libby and Kalispell. 

She was hired on at Costco full-time and moved to Kalispell permanently. Marlenea made some great friends at Costco, they would go to dinner, local plays at the Big Fork Playhouse, events at the Conrad mansion, and take trips together. 

Marlenea was a front-end supervisor and loved seeing all the familiar faces from Libby. Marlenea was very close with her daughter and they were always off doing something together. In 2009 she became a grandma to Paisley and she loved beinga grandma more than anything. 

Paisley was the apple of her eye and would move mountains for that girl. They had sleepovers every week starting when Paisley was a week old and also a standing weekly lunch date. Marlenea was a wonderful mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, auntie and friend. She would light up a room with her laugh. 

She was just a happy person and never wanted to miss out on a good time. She never left the house without her being put together. Lake days were her favorite and you would find her floating all day long. She forever lives on in the lives of her daughter and granddaughter and those closest to her.

Marlenea was preceded her in death by her grandparents Willis (Mac) and Arleen Warner and Leanord and Eloise Auch; cousin Hedi Blair; English bulldogs Ruger and Maverick. 

Marlenea is survived by her daughter Cassi, her son-in-law Scott Smith and her granddaughter Paisley Smith. Parents Gary and Patti Auch, sister Deanna Massingill, sister Valerie (Craig) Wohlsein, nephews Justin Charland and Wyatt Wohlsein, niece Shelby (Conor) Jorgensen and great nieces Burkleigh and Phayre. Her aunt Sandi (Don) Hemminger. Also many aunts, uncles, cousins, and many, many dear friends. 

Marlenea’s family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Logan Health Hospice. They made the last months of her life pain-free and were so kind and caring to work with. 

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 23, at the Libby Assembly of God. Following the memorial service, a reception will be held.