The Lord called Marlene Ruth (Domke) Carlson home the morning of March 13, 2025, at the age of 92. She passed peacefully at her home in Spearfish, SD.

Marlene was born in New Ulm, MN on November 18, 1932, to Clarence and Minnie Domke from Sleepy Eye, MN. She joined two sisters, Phyllis and Donna. She was baptized January 8, 1933 at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sleepy Eye, MN.

She attended parochial school until the 8th grade and high school through the 12th grade at Sleepy Eye, Class of 1950. Marlene and her best friend Ardis went to the Twin Cities to attend nursing school, graduating with her LPN license in 1951.

Marlene married Edner L. Carlson January 20,1952. They were blessed with six children. They lived and worked on the family farm near Darfur, MN and Marlene nursed for Dr. Remus in Comfry, MN. In 1967 they purchased a farm/ranch further west near Clear Lake, SD. They lived there ten years, moving west again and settling in the Black Hills of SD in 1977. Marlene nursed everywhere she lived, it was truly her calling to care for people. She retired at age 63, but continued to care for everyone, family, grandkids, Eddie, neighbors, those that came and went from her life. To her very last days, she cared for others.

Church was always important to Marlene and she made sure her family knew the Lord. She trusted He had a plan for her life and leaned on Him throughout her life.

She enjoyed lots of crafts, from barbed wire to seashells, painted rocks, clock making, and many others. She loved to garden and live in the country. Her favorite flowers were the wild roadside roses. Moving to town in her elder years she helped the ladies at church make quilts for a time, loved playing cards: Pitch, 3-13 and even a little Texas Hold'em. She was always up for bingo and corn hole. Marlene enjoyed a good visit and was always ready to share a cup of coffee. She especially loved when her family and the grandkids would stop in. Always up for adventure.

Marlene is survived by her children: Beckie (Kevin) Ploszaj of Buffalo, SD, Joel (Danita) Carlson of Bradley, SD, Vanessa (Guy) Taylor of Sundance, WY, Robin (Dee) Wilcox of Zeona, SD, LuAnn (Todd) Youngberg of Newell, SD, and John Carlson of Gillette, WY, 18 grandkids, 25 great-grandkids, one great-great-grandson, sister-in-law Anita Carlson of Byron, MN, many nieces and nephews, and all of their families whom she loved so much.

Marlene is preceded in death by her husband Edner L. Carlson, parents Clarence and Minnie Domke, sisters Phyllis Schmidt and Donna Anderson, numerous brothers and sisters-in-law, and infant great-granddaughters Maevis Joy and Millie Joy Carlson.