On the morning of June 17th, 2024, Mom left our world to travel to her next while listening to “Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On” with her granddaughter, Jessie, by her side. Mom was always ready for a road trip. She was a loving wife, wonderful mom, don’t touch my kids Gramma and Great Gramma, and a protective big sister and auntie to many. She was the first leader of our pack!
Mom was born in Park Rapids, MN, on March 8th, 1947, to Joseph and Bessie (Blount) Tatro. She joined 7 older siblings with one more to follow after her. I remember her telling us about playing in Grandpa Joe’s auto junkyard. She learned to play the accordion sitting on his lap; Mom played the buttons and Grandpa played the keys. Mom played trombone in the school band from a young age. She was Queen of the Paul Bunyan Days parade in Akeley when she was 15.
After a whirlwind of romance of only a couple months, Mom married her loving husband of 59 years, Jeremiah Johnson, on August 15th, 1964, in Akeley, MN. The whirlwind included dates at the “Old Burger Drive Inn” in Park Rapids; (their first) rides in Dad’s 1958 Ford retractable hard top. Ten months after marriage, their oldest daughter Kim was born in June of 1965, followed by Karen in December of 1968. They lived in numerous states and places either for work or to be closer to family. Mom had a lot of adventures as a logger’s wife! Too many to mention here but a couple come to mind. The night up Rock Creek outside of Townsend in our little camper with all the guns loaded and a grizzly bear outside all night. There was also a rattlesnake outside of Greycliff that Dad killed with a chainsaw. It didn’t matter if it was in our little camper, a tent, or an old cabin in the mountains, Mom always made it home. Mom and Dad traveled until grandbabies started to arrive and spoiling them was required. Mom was perfect for the job. There are 9 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren, so it was a full-time thing. Mom loved to play her accordion and keyboard, watching Viking’s games with Dad, listening to her 50’s country music, and could polka and two-step with the best of ‘em.
Surviving Marlene is her loving husband of 59 years, Jerry; daughter, Kim (Ray) of White Sulphur Springs; daughter, Karen of Townsend; her little sister, Bonnie (Cleo) of Akeley, MN; Grandchildren, Kelly Jr. (Tacy), Becky (Tim), Ryan (Evey), Jessie, Kodi (Josh), Jeri Ann (James), Ali (John), Cheyenne (Cody), Kelly (Tabby); great-grandchildren, Kade, Dre, Kyrsten, Gabby, Julian, Adrian, Gabe, Zack, Arin, Ericka, Jesslyn, Jamie, Jenny, Justin, Sam, Timmy, Jax, Silas, and Asher. So many other nieces and nephews that I’m not sure of but she loved them all.
Waiting to meet Mom when she traveled on were her parents, Joseph and Bessie; 3 big brothers, Virgil, Ralph, and Joseph Jr.; 4 big sisters, Verla, Verna, Kathy, and Beverly; son-in-law Kelly Swanton Sr. and grandson Kael Larson.
Fly High Mom, until we meet again!
XOXOXOXO
Written by Jeri Ann, Marlene’s granddaughter
When we were little gramma would rub the middle of our forehead in
between our eyes and whisper, “Shhh…listen, shhh…listen.” Over and over
again. She wouldn’t stop until our tummy aches went away or until we fell
Asleep. She continued this with her great grandbabies too.
I had the privilege of doing the same for gramma while she was preparing
to go home to be with her daddy and mom. Grandma danced into heaven
at 10:27 am June 17th, 2024. I can only imagine the welcome she had!
I learned how to care for people, love whoever needed to be loved in that
moment, how to fight fiercely for family either by blood or by choice and I
definitely grew into the woman I am today because of my gramma.
She wasn’t just my gramma but a mom and grandma to so many. Too many
To count, that’s just who she was. Once she took you in, you couldn’t
escape from gramma. You were her family, period. And she was fiercely
protective over you.
I know this isn’t goodbye, I will be listening gramma. That’s how you
prepared us to know that you always be there. I know that now.
How much do I love you? I love you to the moon and back. That’s a lot of
Lots of loving…..Lots of loving gramma
As per Mom’s wishes, no services will be held but there will be a remembrance of life in
Akeley, MN at a later date.
Cheyenne Phillips says
Grandma & I would do everything together. If grandma needed my help I would be right there. If I need to talk to someone l would go to her. She was the first one to hold me when I was a newborn. She was my rock, my best friend, & my whole world. I can’t believe she is gone now. But I now she is up in heaven watching over me. Rest In Peace Grandma.
Bonnie Lanning says
My sister will always be in my heart. I will miss her something awful but I know she is with me, just not the same way.
I know she is no longer in pain so that is the best thing about this. We lived miles apart but we still knew that we loved each other. We will be together again someday. I love you Sis!