Florence Marilyn Meberg

Born on April 18, 1939, in Dinuba California, Florence Marilyn Ricker was named after her mother’s sister Florence, but never took to the name, preferring Marilyn, or even Mare to close friends to her given name. Marilyn was the only child of Elizabeth and Jasper Ricker. She liked to quip, “My parents told me that getting to know me was so wonderful, they decided not to try again!” Jasper Ricker was a rural Methodist minister and when Marilyn was young her family moved to Southwestern Washington. After high School, Marily attended Seattle Pacific University where she met her future husband, Ken Meberg. Marilyn joined the choir and Ken was the choir president. She found him gregarious and hilarious, and they discovered laughter was quite a strong bond. Marilyn was majoring in psychology at the University but switched to English to become a teacher and support Ken through grad school.

In Fullerton, California, Marilyn, and Ken made a home full of laughter with their children, Jeff, and Beth. The kids remember that at times, it was hard for them to fall asleep because of the evening vaudeville parties. Ken would play the piano deliberately off-key and Marilyn would sing Precious Memories, very loud and equally off-key. Their guests roared.

Ken and Marilyn were members of the Fullerton Evangelical Free Church in California when Chuck Swindoll was the pastor. Through Chuck, Marilyn met a life-long friend and co-conspirator in Luci Swindoll, his older sister. Their friendship spanned five decades. It held them up during difficult years and doubled them over with laughter on a regular basis.

When the kids were school age, Marilyn began a ten-year career of teaching English at Biola University in LA. Gaining a second master’s degree in psychology from Pepperdine University, Marilyn would spend the next ten years in private practice as a marriage and family therapist. One of the best things to come out of her Pepperdine years was she made another friend for life, fellow therapist, Pat Wenger. Pat became mom’s right hand “woman” during her 17 years with Women of Faith making sure Marilyn was where she was supposed to be and stayed out of trouble. That friendship remained for 40 years.

When Ken died of cancer after 29 years of marriage, Marilyn struggled for perspective. However, their years of shared joy and laughter sustained her. It also made her extraordinarily popular as a speaker. In 1996, Marilyn was asked to join her friends, Luci Swindoll, Pastry Clairmont and Barbara Johnson, to form a new women’s conference called the Joyful Journey.

Bringing her unique perspective of laughter and depth for life’s most difficult challenges, Marilyn quickly became a favorite speaker to many at the renamed, Women of Faith conferences. Speaking over 30 weekends a year, Marilyn thrived as an author, speaker, and counselor to over 3 million women. Her vulnerability and willingness to share her most personal trails with audiences helped bring hope and healing to all who heard her stories. Her words and talks were published in books, newsletters, and devotionals the world over. Her best-selling books include titles like…Choosing the Amusing, The Zippered Heart, and God at Your Wits End.

In 2001, World Vision recognized Women of Faith and Marilyn’s contribution to the sponsoring of over 35,000 children. The number would later be tripled. In 2005, her alma mater, Seattle Pacific University, named her Alumna of the Year. By the time Marilyn retired from Women of Faith in 2012, over 300,000 women had professed their faith in Christ. Her last book entitled Decision of a Lifetime, became an instant best-seller, and remains a tool for many ministry organizations to follow her simple approach to sharing the good news.

After Women of Faith, Mom continued to teach Bible studies before she moved to Crestavilla, a retirement community in Laguna Niguel, California, two and half years ago. During her time at Crestavilla, Marilyn quickly made friends with staff and residents who provided much support and care for her as she journeyed through her final chapter of this earth.

Marilyn is survived by her children, Jeff Meberg and his wife Carla of Laguna Beach, Elizabeth Meberg of Mt. Gilead, Ohio, two grandsons, Ian, and Alec, four great grandchildren and her constant loyal companion, Little Rickie, her Maltese puppy.

A memorial service for Florence will be held Friday, February 9, 2024 at 4:00 PM at Grace Church, 24600 La Plata Dr, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677. Following the memorial service will be a reception at 5:00 PM at Crestavilla, 30111 Niguel Rd, Laguna Niguel, CA.