Marilyn Korn

Marilyn J. Korn, 79, Valley City, ND, formerly of Marion, ND, died on December 2, 2012, following a short stay at Essentia Health in Fargo, ND. Marilyn Joyce Lindgren was born June 22, 1933, to Phillip and Esther (Larson) Lindgren in Grafton, ND. Marilyn’s education began in a small country school, Kensington School, and she graduated from Walsh County Agricultural School in Park River, ND, in 1951. Marilyn attended summer school at Valley City State University (VCSU) in Valley City, ND, and taught for three years at her home country school, Kensington, where she worked with her two younger sisters, Lynnette and Arlyss. Thereafter, Marilyn continued her education full-time at VCSU and graduated in 1956 with a major in English and minors in Home Economics and Music. Marilyn and her best friend, Dorothy (Mattson) Arvidson, both taught in Wimbledon, ND, for a year after graduation. In the summer of 1956, Marilyn was visiting a friend in the hospital when she met her friend’s hospital roommate, Ralph Korn who had been injured in a farming accident. Several months later, Marilyn and Ralph began dating and were married at First Baptist Church in Valley City, ND, on September 29, 1957. The two were happily married almost 49 years prior to Ralph’s passing. Marilyn and Ralph farmed near Marion, ND, and Marilyn started working as a long-term substitute at the high school in Litchville, ND, in 1959. She continued full-time during the 1959-1960 school year teaching English, speech and journalism, and later changed to instructing junior high library, language arts, and home economics after the Litchville and Marion schools merged. After 40 years of teaching, Marilyn retired in 2000. Marilyn gave her heart to Christ when she was 12 years old and was involved in various church activities from that point forward. She and Ralph were members of the United Methodist Church in Marion, ND, where Marilyn taught Sunday school, played the piano, and ministered with the women’s group. Marilyn and Ralph moved off the farm during the fall of 2003 to Rosewood Court (assisted living) in LaMoure, ND, before moving to Bridgeview Estates (assisted living) in Valley City, ND, in May 2005. Marilyn once again became active with First Baptist Church in Valley City and hosted a prayer group at her home each week. She was also involved in social activities through the assisted living, most recently hosting a weekly concert night comprised of singing, as well as violin and piano music. Family, friends, and caregivers were very important to Marilyn, and she enjoyed staying in touch with former students. She wrote an annual Christmas poem each year that incorporated the salvation message and had just completed her 2012 poem prior to her death. Marilyn’s legacy is her strong faith, active prayer life, spiritual mentoring, giving heart, encouraging spirit, positive attitude, and young-at-heart outlook on life. Marilyn is survived by a brother, Harlan (Beverly) Lindgren of Shakopee, MN; sisters Lynnette (Dean) Karges of Oriska, ND, and Arlyss (David) Eby of St. Anthony, MN; as well as several nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and nephews, and great grand-nieces and nephews. Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sister, Doreen Lindgren; brother, Allston Lindgren; and sister-in-law, Dorothy Lindgren.

Marilyn Korn

June 22, 1933 - December 2, 2012