Marlene Powell, 93, of Bowman, ND, formerly of Amidon, passed away on Monday, September 8, 2025 at the Southwest Healthcare Longterm Center in Bowman.

Funeral Services for Marlene will be held on Friday, September 12, 2025 at the Pierce Congregational Church, rural Scranton, ND, beginning at 10:30 am.  Pastor Terry Bagley will officiate with burial to follow in the Pierce Congregational Cemetery, rural Scranton.  Visitation for Marlene will be from11-12 at the SWHC chapel and  1-9 at the Krebsbach and Kulseth Funeral Home Chapel on Thursday, September 11, 2025.

Marlene Louise Fresonke was born in 1932 in DeSart, ND to John (Jack) and Gudrun Nordby Fresonke. She joined her dad and mom and older brother Fredrick (Fritz) at their home near New England, ND. In 1934 her dad, Jack, died suddenly and her baby brother John Goodwin was born. Baby John died later that year as well.

Gudrun, Fritz, and Marlene later moved into New England where Marlene spent most of her childhood years. After living in northern MN during the war when her stepfather, Harold Van Fleet, was serving in the US Army, the family returned to New England.  Marlene attended and graduated from New England Public School in 1949.

Marlene's best friend, Anita, brought her home to the Powell farm where she met Glenn. In June of 1950 they married in New England and spent the next 70 years farming and raising four sons in Hume Township.   During this time, Marlene was also involved in activities including serving several years on the Southwest Healthcare advisory board and partaking in the annual birthday club activities with her friends. Marlene sang with her mother in the community choir in Bowman for years and she also was an active member of the Pierce church Ladies Aid.

Marlene's tradition of baking an angel food cake for each boy every birthday will be fondly remembered by her sons and their families:  Myles and family Shannon, Ryan (Jenn) and Lillian, and Glendon; Dale (Patricia) and family Christina, Mark (Shannon) and  Elizabeth and Greyson, and Jonathan (Kayla) Alexis and Shawn; Jeff (Sue); Jim (Wanda) and family Amber and children Emma, Addie and JJ, Joshua (Gene Anne) and Kieran, Ryan (Savanna) and Kip, Penelope and Daphne, Sara (Cole) and Willa and Owen, and Jordan (Ella).

Surviving Marlene are  her brother Fritz Fresonke (Sally) Billings, MT and her sister Ellen Murphy, Mandan, ND,  her sister-in-laws Anita Jacobs, Richland, WA, Faye Reile , Bismarck, ND, and Eileen Powell,  Bowman, ND and her brother-in-law Frank Powell (Lori) Richland, WA.

Marlene was preceded in death by her mother, Gudrun Van Fleet, her husband, Glenn, her daughter-in-law, Jane Powell and her grandson-in-law, Joshua Umbreit.