Mary Ellen Marks

Mary Ellen Marks, 85, passed away on Aug. 23 at Essentia Health-Oak Crossing nursing center, Detroit Lakes, MN. Mary was born April 26, 1931, to James P. and Ollie E. (Martin) Tolbert in Bluefield, W.Va., where she graduated from Beaver High School. She attended Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va., before moving to Washington, D.C., where she worked for the FBI and met her future husband, Robert C. Marks. They married March 12, 1955, at Hamline Methodist Church in Washington, D.C. They moved to Columbia Heights, Minn., and in 1970 to Rochester, Minn., where she continued to raise their two daughters before returning to work full-time at Crenlo. She continued working various part-time jobs until illness forced her to retire completely and move to Detroit Lakes in 2013. Mary was a member of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, of the American Legion and VFW auxiliaries, and was a former Girl Scout leader and active member of her condominium association. She enjoyed reading, bowling, gardening, games, movies, dancing and traveling. She particularly enjoyed time with her large extended family and returned frequently to West Virginia. She was preceded in death by her parents and four brothers--James H., Everett, Wm. Pete, and Charlesas well as her husband, Bob. She is survived by her daughters, Patricia Fogg (Dana) of Rochester, Minn., and Jamie Marks Erickson of Detroit Lakes, Minn.; one sister-in-law, Helen Johnson of Solway, Minn.; three grandchildren, Brandon (Sara) and Bryan Fogg and Mariah Marks Erickson; and two great-grandchildren, Tyler and Alyssa. Memorials will be directed to Oak Crossing and other organizations that supported Mary in her lengthy battle with Alzheimers Disease. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 1, 2016 at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church 2830 18th Avenue NW Rochester, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service Thursday at the church. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery Rochester, MN. Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes 5421 Royal Place NW Rochester, MN 55901 www.ranfranzandvinefh.com