Marilyn Brusven

CLARKFIELD — A private family service will be held for Marilyn Brusven, 85, on Tuesday at the Living Word Lutheran Church in Marshall. Burial to follow in St. Lucas Lutheran Cemetery in Normania Township. A service open to the public will be held following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. Arrangements are with the J.H. Lynner Funeral Home in Clarkfield.

God called Marilyn home Thursday, May 7, 2020, surrounded by her loving family at Murray County Hospice House in Slayton.

Marilyn Rose (Schlemmer) Brusven was born April 28, 1935, near Wood Lake in Posen Township, Yellow Medicine County. She was the daughter of Henry and Clara (Goltz) Schlemmer. She was both baptized on May 26, 1935, and confirmed in her faith on April 10, 1949, at St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Posen Township. Marilyn graduated from Marshall High School in 1953.

Marilyn was united in marriage to Ernie Brusven at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Marshall on Sept. 19, 1954. The couple resided on the family farm near Cottonwood where they were blessed with four children: Cheryl, LeAnn, Kevin, and Scott.

Marilyn was a partner on the family farm and worked side by side with Ernie their entire married life.

Marilyn always had a huge garden and chickens for butchering. If she wasn’t actively farming you could find her in the kitchen canning, preserving apples, and baking bread and her fantastic buns. She was also an expert at making lefsa and passed on this tradition to her family. Marilyn would walk up to perfect stranger and make a connection almost immediately. Her favorite part of the summer was spent at the cabin on Lake Andrew with family and friends. Marilyn would always make time to meet with friends for coffee or lunch. As she aged she was so proud to show her current quilting project and beautiful plants. You could not enter Marilyn’s home without seeing how she cherished her family and memories of loved ones. And don’t forget her dog, Polly.

Marilyn is survived by her four children, Cheryl (Gary) Bitker of Milroy, LeAnn (Jerry) Mead of St. Cloud, Kevin Brusven of Minneapolis, and Scott (Kristy) Brusven of Cottonwood; six grandchildren, Travis (Sara) Bitker of Sioux Center, IA, and their children Avery, and Kamdyn; Rhonda (Cody) Siver of DeSmet, SD, and their children Sullivyn, Vaughn and Delta; Courtney Bitker (Kent) of Marshall; Drew (Anna) Zachow of Lake George, and their children Jacoby, James and a little blessing due in June; Anna and Emma Brusven of Cottonwood.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Clara; husband, Ernie; sister, Vera Mohwinkel; and brothers, Harold and Wally Schlemmer.