Marion Esther (McNames) Lauer

 Marion Esther Lauer (87) of Howard, died Saturday, August 4, 2018 at Madison Community Hospital.  Marion was born on September 26, 1930 near Argonne, SD, to Rieka and Hobart McNames. 

            Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30am, Tuesday, August 7, 2018 at St. Agatha Catholic Church, Howard with burial to follow in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Howard. Visitation will be Monday at the church from 5pm to 7pm with a Scripture service at 7pm.

Marion attended Argonne Country School near Howard and graduated in 1948.  After graduation, she worked in K&K Department Store, and then the ASCS office in Howard for 30 years and retired in June of    1988.

It was love at first sight when Marion met the love of her life at a dance at Lake Madison.  Gene and Marion were united in marriage on October 26, 1950 at St. Agatha Catholic Church, where they remained devoted parishioners throughout their lives.  They were married for 63 years, until Gene’s passing in 2014.

Marion was an active community member and was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for many years, donating one of her beautiful quilts each year. Quilting was a love of hers and the number of quilts she stitched by hand are too numerous to count. She was a volunteer on the Miner County Ambulance Service, Civic League, and helped at church funerals whenever asked.  She was a wonderful hostess and so enjoyed having friends and family over. The more the merrier.

Marion loved to camp, and many fun vacations were planned with family over the years. Gene and Marion made several trips to visit Mike in Denver, and many to Ilwaco, Washington to visit Randy during his Coast Guard tour.  Family reunions in Glacier Park, MT and Estes Park, CO with all the kids and grandkids were some of her happiest times.  She and Gene enjoyed many trips to see Jim and Sue in Iowa, and as baseball fans, visiting the Field of Dreams was a highlight.   Marion was an avid Twins fan, and could always be found watching the games, win or lose, and knowing every player.  Marion and Gene attend a Twins game with Brenda and Brad to celebrate their 60th anniversary and were on the big screen at the game. 

Marion spent four years at Whispering Winds in Howard where she enjoyed her stay and had many visitors over the years.

Grateful for having shared her life are her four children, Mike of Wentworth, SD; Brenda (Brad) Oswald of Flandreau; Randy (Cyndi) of Portland, and Susan (Jim) of Sioux Falls, 8 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband (2014), one brother, and one sister.

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