Obituary: Marilyn Boe

Marilyn G. Boe, 76, of Fargo, N.D., passed away on Friday, March 19, 2021 at Bethany Retirement Living in Fargo.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, March 29 at 11 a.m. at West Funeral Home, located at 321 Sheyenne St., West Fargo.

Marilyn was born May 14, 1944 at the Florence Crittenton Home for Unwed Mothers in Fargo. She was taken in at just a few days old by Edd and Selma (Hallquist) Johnson of New Rockford, N.D., as a foster child. The Johnsons fell immediately in love with her, and she joined their family permanently. Already in the home were two other adopted children, Richard and Beverly. Marilyn grew up as a farm kid in Superior Township, attending a small country school from first to eighth grade. Marilyn then went on to graduate from New Rockford High School in 1962. After high school, Marilyn earned a B.A. in Music Education in 1966 from the Northwest Nazarene College, Nampa, Idaho. Shortly after graduating from college, she married her high school sweetheart, Donald L. Boe, in New Rockford on May 31, 1968. Marilyn taught music for K-12 students for many years, while raising a family in various small towns throughout North Dakota. Shortly after leaving teaching, Marilyn realized her true calling was educating and caring for people with intellectual disabilities. Marilyn worked in this field for 25 years, retiring in 2011. During this work tenure, she went back to college to earn a B.A. in Social Work from Moorhead State University, Moorhead, Minn.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother, sister, a nephew and a great nephew.

She is survived by her four children, Mike (Connie) Boe of Fargo; Michelle Torgerson of Fargo; David (Tyler) Doupe'-Boe of Beaverton, Oregon; and Donelle Boe of Fargo; 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank Bethany Retirement Living and their incredible staff for the many years of excellent care that was provided for their Mother. They would also like to thank Hospice of the Red River Valley for their care, and their very kind chaplain, who sang to their mother every Friday afternoon.

Arrangements by West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center of West Fargo, N.D.