Marilyn Marie Christensen, age 67, of Newell, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, April 15, 2006, at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 19th, at the Congregational Church in Newell. Burial will be at the Newell Cemetery under the direction of the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home.

Visitation is from 4:00-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 18th, at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Newell.

Marilyn was born January 2, 1939, in Creston, Iowa, Union County, to Ronald Cline and Claudine (Rimmer) Cline. She was confirmed in the Methodist Church, grew up in the Newell area, and graduated from Newell High School in 1957. Following graduation she went on to business school in Fort Dodge and worked in Waterloo.

On December 29, 1957, Marilyn was united in marriage to James Christensen. This great marriage was blessed with two children, Mike and Glennys. She was a member of First Congregational Church most of her life and served on the Church Board in many ways. One of her many activities in Newell was serving on the Friends of the Library Board.

She was office manager at Buena Vista Medical Clinic for 22 years, and worked at the Farber & Otteman and Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Homes for the past seven years.

Marilyn had many hobbies! Her favorite being quilting and enjoying so many special friends met through quilting groups. The greatest though was doing things with family and friends. She loved cooking and baking for parties and social gatherings. Nobody was a stranger to Marilyn; she loved to visit with people and had a wonderful sense of humor. Her love of life with family and friends was always highest on the list.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Jim; son Mike Christensen and wife Kelly of Canton, SD; daughter, Glennys Hirsh and husband Craig of Omaha, NE; four grandchildren: Alex and Abby Christensen, and Judy and Ian Hirsh; her father, Ronald Cline of Casa Grande, AZ; brother, Jim Cline and wife Kathi of Phoenix, AZ; sister, Marie Fibelstad and husband Dale of Storm Lake, IA; extended family members; and a host of friends.

Her mother, Claudine Cline, preceded Marilyn in death.