Funeral services for Marjorie J. Wilson, age 88, of Bismarck, ND, formerly of Hettinger, ND, will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 at the Hettinger Lutheran Church. Pastor Kathleen Dettmann will officiate with burial in the Hettinger Cemetery.


Marjorie Joyce Kroft was born on March 4, 1923 to Herman and Ethel (Henley) Kroft at Hettinger, ND. She attended school in Hettinger and graduated from Hettinger High School in 1941. While in school, Marjorie was an alto saxophone player in the Hettinger Cowboy Band. Following her graduation she taught at the Wilson School near Lodgepole, SD. While teaching she boarded at the Gardner Wilson Ranch and there she met Clay Wilson. They were united in marriage on May 19, 1943. Four daughters were born to this union.


Marjorie raised her family and worked on the farm with her husband. In 1989, Marjorie and Clay moved to Hettinger. Following Clay's death on September 22, 2006, Marjorie moved to Bismarck and entered the Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center. She resided there until her passing on Friday, November 25, 2011.


Marjorie will be remembered for her passion of life and love, filled with music, dancing, community plays and card parties.


Grateful for having shared in her life are her four daughters, Bonnie (Sam) Inga, Elizabeth, CO, Beverly Marion, Detroit Lakes, MN, Leah Gunther, Hettinger, ND and Rhonda (Steve) Haegele, Bismarck, ND; nine grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.


She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Clay Wilson; three sisters, Lola Glass, Carol Merwin and LaDonna Feryance; and one brother, Royal Kroft.


Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 28, 2011 at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Hettinger and one hour prior to the services at the church on Tuesday morning.