Marilyn Joyce Westre

It is with great sadness, we announce the passing of our beautiful mother, Marilyn Joyce Westre. Mom died peacefully, in her sleep on November 18, 2023 in Ames, Iowa. We know she had a life lived well but we will miss her so much.

Mom was born December 17, 1932 on the family farm in Wausa, Nebraska to Fridolph and Signe Lindstrom. She graduated from Wausa High School where she honed her clerical skills. Her hard work and Swedish determination led her to Sioux City, Iowa where found work as a bank teller and living quarters at Shesler Hall, previously a women‘s boarding house. This dormitory experience gave her friendships and a wealth of funny stories she loved to tell. During this time, the bank teller was swept off her feet by a handsome salesman, with a gift of gab! Yep! That was our Dad, Darvis Westre. They married on October 31, 1954 and say that they had no idea it was Halloween. As they welcomed each of us through the years, Mom said she had no regrets making costumes and popcorn balls, or trick or treating. She said that we wouldn't be young forever. Mom shared the community spirit, working with the Beta Sigma Phi sorority, a club that did fundraising for local causes. She loved staying busy and most activities involved us. Sewing, cooking and baking were done with love. Because of this nurturing personality, Mom would be sought out by friends and coworkers for advice frequently. But make no mistake, she could offer up critical advice too. Straighten up and fly right!

That toughness came through when she lost Dad after 63 years of marriage in 2017. She moved to Ames, Iowa to be close to family and found so much happiness. Mom jumped into more family dinners, new friendships, and weekly drives to DQ with a carload of ladies, potlucks and bingo. She decorated her home with many Swedish items including her mom's Swedish knackebrod roller and towels hanging in the kitchen and red Swedish Dala horses in the window. Lots of family photos, books, ceramic birds and flowers blooming outside reflected her life. She showed us her love of reading and how to enjoy the peace she found in the library. We can also share that she was the family Scrabble champion. And we can say it now...Competitive! Scrappy! Tenacious!

We are grateful for the life she led by example as a devoted wife, mom and friend. We will miss her sweet face. True to her nature, Mom was comforting us during our last conversations, telling us she was ready to go, she had stayed too long and her body was tired. She leaves behind love and cherished memories.

Cremation has taken place and inurnment will be at Iowa Veteran's Cemetery at a later date.

Marilyn is survived her children Debra (Mark) Campbell of Ames, Iowa; Barbara (Jerry) Rollings of Heber AZ; Scott (Margaret) Westre of Hastings, MN; grandchildren Jordan (Scottie) Dierickx, Nick Rollings, Zach (Casey) Rollings, Sam Westre, Hannah Westre; 6 great grandchildren and many beloved nieces and nephews and their families; as well as her brother Phil Lindstrom of Hampton, VA;

Preceding her in death are her parents Fridolph and Signe Lindstrom; her brother Robert Lindstrom; her sister Marjorie Teager; and her husband of 62 years, Darvis D. "West" Westre.

Memorials may be directed to the family in loving memory of Marilyn.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.StevensMemorialChapel.com for the Westre family.