Marlene Gail Dillard

Marlene Gail (Bergstrom) Vinson, Dillard, 78, of Great Falls, passed away at Peace Hospice on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015. After having lived a faith-centered life marked by love for family and remarkable service to many, her health had declined over the past few years, and her body could go on no more. Her steadfast faith in her savior, Jesus Christ, has certainly assured her a place in Heaven.

She was born on Sept. 1, 1936, in Opheim, Mont., the first child of LeRoy and Ethel Bergstrom. Her early years were spent on the family farm southwest of Opheim, where she was eventually joined by three siblings, Janet, Bob and Larry. As the elder sibling, she was and would always be the glue that bonded her family together.

She was a genuine Montana pioneer girl. The little farm house on the prairie where she was raised had no indoor plumbing, and a coal-fired stove served the multiple purposes of heating the house, cooking meals, and heating hot water for baths and laundry.

She attended first through third grade in the one-room Golden Valley school with her siblings and the few neighbor children from nearby farms. It was a life with few material treasures, but abundant with faith, love and meaningful life lessons.

After her family moved to town, she attended school in Opheim, graduating in 1954. While in high school, she was an Opheim Viking cheerleader and always held a job - she was a babysitter, a waitress, a telephone switchboard operator, and post office clerk. During the summer between her sophomore and junior years, she ventured to Seattle and stayed with her cousin. On her first day in the city, she applied for a job at the Bon Marche department store. When she was asked her age, and said she was 15, they turned her away, saying she had to be 16 to work there. Undaunted, she returned the next day and met with a different lady. This time she said she was 16, and she went to work that day.

It was while she was in high school that she met a handsome airman from Michigan who had just returned from the Korean War and was stationed at the Opheim Radar Site. It was a foregone conclusion that the prettiest girl in Opheim would win Earl "Vince" Vinson's heart, and on June, 15, 1955, they were married in the Opheim Lutheran Church. She and Vince lived in Opheim, Miles City and Minot, N.D., before settling in Great Falls in 1963. The small-town girl was so excited to be living in a big city! Their marriage was blessed with two sons, Bob and Jim. They shared a very special love for one another, and were devoted partners and parents. After 29 years of marriage, Vince passed away in 1984.

She was a fantastic wife and mother. She baked and decorated creative birthday cakes, sewed clothes and Halloween costumes, taught Sunday school, was a room mother at Chief Joseph School, camped and tagged along on fishing trips, and attended every sporting event that her boys participated in. Her house was always spotless, and she could seemingly effortlessly throw together a wonderful meal for however many unexpected guests might land at her table. Where she got her energy is anybody's guess!

The welcome mat on her porch was always out. Through the years, numerous members of her family and friends lived under her roof, many for extended stays. Many more enjoyed her hospitality for a weekend or a few days while in Great Falls to visit, shop, see the doctor or fly out of the airport. No one who had an opportunity to dine her kitchen table ever left disappointed – she could flat-out cook! Her home cookin' and homemade buns were legendary!

After being a stay-at-home Mom and part-time volunteer at the Cascade County Nursing Home (later the Missouri River Manor), she went to work at the Home in 1975 as their first staff activities director. Her kind and caring spirit was abundantly evident as she interacted with patients and their families, all whom she got to know personally. With the activities staff and corps of volunteers that she assembled, she planned and coordinated arts and crafts, musical entertainment and field trips. Her affection for the nursing home residents didn't stop after working hours; she often spent evenings and weekends leading activities, and routinely took residents on evening and weekend outings and had residents over to her home for holidays and Sunday dinners, and birthday celebrations. Years after she had retired in 1999, a current administrator said Marlene was "a legend at the Missouri River Manor."

It was five years after Vince had passed away that she met Bob Dillard. Bob's first wife, Val, had passed away and Bob was recovering from his loss by volunteering at the nursing home. They married in 1989 and shared over 25 loving and purposeful years together. Bob might not have known what he was getting into when he married Marlene, but she soon converted him into a full time volunteer. Together, they volunteered in many capacities at their church and at the Missouri River Manor, delivered meals on wheels, and were guardian angels to the many shut-ins and infirm friends that they adopted and cared for. Their blended families bonded and Bob and Marlene were very happily the world's best grandparents! When Marlene's health declined in her last years, Bob's devotion to caring for her was nothing short of astonishing.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Earl "Vince" Vinson; a grandson, Zachary Tate Vinson.

Survivors include her husband, Bob Dillard; two sons, Bob Vinson and his wife, Lori, of Great Falls, and Jim Vinson and his wife, Barb, of Chester; a step-daughter, Trudy Terwilliger and her husband, Earl, of Great Falls; three stepsons, Mike Dillard and his wife, Janet, and Mark Dillard and his wife, Mary, all of Washington, and Bill Soloman and his wife, Lori; a sister, Janet Bailey and her husband, Jim; two brothers, Bob Bergstrom and Larry Bergstrom and his wife, Jeannie; a sister-in-law, Deanna Bergstrom; 13 grandchildren, Bobby and his wife, Tara, Ty and his wife, Desiree, Shayna, Courtney, Caitlin and Kylee Vinson, Dusty Terwilliger and his wife, Kristen, Dana Sondergaard and her husband, Steve, Nick and his wife, Carey, and David Dillard and his wife, Jadie; Rick, Tammy and Harmony; 15 great-grandchildren; and numerous beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.

Her funeral was held Feb. 21, at 2 p.m., at Christ United Methodist Church in Great Falls.

Marlene - Mom - Grandma - you made the world and the people around you better. You were loved and will be missed. Heaven awaits you. Watch over us until we meet again.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Peace Hospice of Montana or donor's choice.

Condolences may be shared with the family at O'ConnorFuneralHome.com.