Marlene Briggs

Marlene Fay Briggs, nee Larson, age 81, passed away at home on August 5th after a brief struggle with cancer. She lived a wonderful life full of family, friends, sewing and farming. Marlene was born on March 29, 1935 in Clayton, WI to Arthur and Catharine Larson, the seventh of ten children. She grew up on the family farm and attended the Jones Creek one-room schoolhouse, which sat across the driveway from her home. Marlene graduated from Clayton High School, where she was a cheerleader for the Clayton Bears and played baritone saxophone in the band. Her late brother, Lynn Larson, introduced Marlene to her future husband, David Paul Briggs. Marlene and Dave eloped and were married by a justice of the peace at the nearby grocery store and were married for 62 years. Marlene's greatest joy in life was her family. She and Dave had 5 daughters, Debbie, Jill (Dennis Christ), Renee (Kerry Kellerhuis), Jodi, and Mindy (Steven Benton). Marlene was a natural teacher and caregiver and raised her girls teaching them to sing in harmony, to sew, to garden, and to love one another. She was the proud grandmother to Paul, Kip (Sarah), and John Bergstrom, Tony, Joseph, Anne (Alex Johnson) and Sally (Spencer Lueth) Kellerhuis, Alison (Chris McGrath) and Brian Welch (Ashley Baer), Kevin and Dee Christ and Cheryl and Tom Halcom, Thomas and Peter (Ashley) LeVasseur, and Connor, Sarah and Claire Benton. Her great grandchildren were Robert, Joslyn, Luke, Jordan, Jayden and Kylee. Sisters Kay Westlund, Jill Hatch, and Cathy Hatch survive Marlene. She was preceded in death by her siblings Wayne Larson, Donald Larson, Iris (Grivna) Larson, and Lynn Larson as well as two sisters who died in their early childhood.

Memorial Service 2:00 p.m., Friday, August 12, 2016 at Elim Lutheran Church, 20971 Olinda Trail North, Scandia. Visitation 1-2 p.m. at the church. Interment at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery.

Funeral Home: Mattson Funeral Home 343 North Shore Drive Forest Lake, MN US 55025

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Previous Events

Visitation
Friday, August 12, 2016
Service
Friday, August 12, 2016
cemetery
Friday, August 19, 2016

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