Marjorie (Marj) Ruth (Liebing) Bohlen, 83, passed away Jan. 8, 2024, at the Brookings Health System, Brookings, South Dakota.
A Celebration of Life and Remembrance service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 13, at 1 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Brookings with a burial to follow at Greenwood Cemetery. The visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings the evening prior, Friday, Jan. 12. Condolences may be sent to the family in care of Eidsness Funeral Home, 1617 Orchard Drive, Brookings, SD 57006. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to First United Methodist Church or to the Neighborhoods at Brookview, Brookings, SD.
Marj was born May 14, 1940, at Milbank, SD to Kermit and Ruth (Lutz) Liebing. She graduated from Milbank High School in 1958. After high school Marj attended Minneapolis Business College completing a secretarial course. She met Al Bohlen in 1956, at the local roller-skating rink and they were married on October 18, 1959. Marj and Al then moved to Aberdeen, SD, where she worked at the Employment Security Department of SD. From there they returned to Milbank and welcomed their children, Steven, Lauri, and Patricia. After moving to Brookings Marj returned to work and was the executive secretary of the First United Methodist Church for twenty-three years.
After retirement Marj returned to school and received her BS degree in psychology from SDSU in 1997 and then her master’s degree in counseling and human resource development at SDSU in 2000. Lifelong learning was important to Marj and she excelled in her studies, graduating with honors.
Marj was an avid Minnesota Twins fan having attended World Series games in 1987 and again in 1991. Marj and Al enjoyed traveling in retirement visiting Las Vegas regularly as well as cruising to Alaska on two occasions.
In July 2020 Marj moved to the Neighborhoods at Brookview where she made many new friends and continued to enjoy life playing BINGO and faithfully attending chapel services and Bible study provided there. She also enjoyed making relationships with staff.
Marj is survived by her three children, Steve (Cindy) Bohlen of Clear Lake, SD, Lauri (Gregg) TeBeest of Brookings, and Patty (David) Sutera of Tyndall, SD. Her grandchildren are Stephanie (Chris Westerman) Bohlen, Brookings, Samantha South, Minneapolis, MN, Rachel (Ryan) Hulburt, Roberts, WI, Jordan TeBeest, Brookings, SD, Matt (Luke Meister) Sutera, St. Paul, MN, Nate Sutera, Omaha, NE, and Zach Sutera (Rachel Dieger), Yankton, SD. Survivors also include her great-grandchildren Jordan Jensen, Watertown, SD, Jayden TeBeest, Brookings, Lydia TeBeest, Cannon Falls, MN, and Nolan Hulburt, Roberts, WI. Marj also has a surviving sister, Linda (Ray) Babb, Soldiers Grove, WI, and sister-in-law Linda Bale, Sioux Falls, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Marj’s family would like to thank the entire staff of the Neighborhoods at Brookview for their support, dedication, love, and compassionate care of their mom during the time she was a resident there. We will be forever grateful. Thank you to First United Methodist Church for their love and support over the years.