Marla J. DeBray

Marla J. DeBray, 73, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, in Great Falls, Mont., from complications after heart surgery.

She was born Feb. 10, 1941, in Glasgow, Mont., to Carl "Mel" and Beulah "Mae" (Dahl) Bollinger. She graduated from Nashua High School in 1959. She was a homemaker until 1972 when she went to work in the Valley County Treasurer Office. In 1983, she won the election and became the Valley County Treasurer and served until 2001, when she retired after 29 years of public service.

On June 21, 1959, she married Jacob DeBray in Nashua. They lived in Nashua, then Glasgow, and finally in 2008 they moved to Fort Peck. She was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Glasgow.

She enjoyed crocheting, stamping and making greeting cards for family and friends. She also loved working in her yard and especially taking care of her flowers.

Survivors include four children, Gary DeBray and his wife, Brenda, of Livingston, Sonya Pankratz and her husband, Chuck, of Great Falls, Shaun DeBray and his wife, Christy, of Elko, Nev., and Darren DeBray and his wife, Terri, of Port Angeles, Wash.; one brother, Carl Bollinger and his wife, Karla, of Lander, Wyo.; 11 grandchildren, Blake, Jessica, Jake, Robyn, Luke, Matthew, Jamie, Rachel, Alisa, Jeffrey and Colline; and two great-grandchildren, Zachary and Aiden.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jacob DeBray, on Jan. 29, 2014.

Marla and Jacob will be deeply missed. A joint memorial will be held for our parents at a later date.

Schnider Funeral Home of Great Falls is in charge of arrangements.