Marlys Flaten

Memorial services for Marlys Flaten of Glenwood formerly of Starbuck, Minnesota, will be held Thursday, November 11, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Fron Lutheran Church in Starbuck, MN with Reverend Paul Johnson and Reverend Jessica Bakken officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church. Burial will be at Fron Lutheran Cemetery, rural Starbuck, Minnesota.

Marlys Irene Gaarder was born April 23, 1929 to Andrew and Hazel (Swensrud) Gaarder in Starbuck, MN. She was baptized and confirmed at Fron Lutheran Church by Pastor Casper Johnshoy. Before graduating in 1947, Marlys was educated in Starbuck Public Schools.

On March 13, 1948 Marlys was united in marriage to LuVerne Kenneth Flaten and the two welcomed three sons: Michael, Duane, and Paul. After the boys were in school, Marlys took a job as a receptionist at the Starbuck Clinic and made it a lifetime career, retiring after over 28 years of service in 1991.

She was a lifelong member of Fron Lutheran Church. Marlys also belonged to the Fron Ladies Aid, Sons of Norway, and VFW Auxiliary Post #4582. In her spare time, she enjoyed gardening, canning, playing cards, crocheting, and spending time with her family.

Marlys passed away Saturday, October 23, 2021 at the Glacial Ridge Hospital in Glenwood, Minnesota.  She was 92 years old.

Marlys is survived by her sons: Michael (Terry) Flaten of Mounds View, MN, Paul (Carrie) Flaten of Northfield, MN; grandchildren: Jennifer (Mark) Gear of Bayport, MN, Jeremy (Emily) Flaten of Spring Lake Park, MN, Jessica Bakken of Rochester, MN, and Nisa (Stephen) Knodt of Phoenix, AZ; great-grandchildren:  Clayton, Samuel, and Ella Flaten, and Carson and Celia Gear; along with many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, LuVerne; son: Duane “Dewey”; and siblings: Arvid Gaarder, Adeline Rundquist, Lorraine Tobias, Arlis Sylvester, Paul Gaarder, and Dean Gaarder.

Services have been entrusted to Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck, MN.