Marilyn C. "Putter" LaLone

Marilyn was born December 18, 1932 in Fremont, Indiana to the late George and Lillian (Anderson) Harding. She was the fifth of six children and was nicknamed “Putter” in childhood as she was “always puttering around.” She grew up in Fremont and on Lake George and she often talked of swimming to the white wall on the north side of the lake. During her teen years, she worked at Bledsoe’s Beach where she was able to dance to the music of popular entertainers. She graduated from Fremont High School in 1950 and became one of the first girls in the area to attend college. She enrolled at the Michigan State University in 1951 where she met Richard; her husband for the past 68 years. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1956 and a Master of Arts Degree in 1968. In 1968, the couple accepted teaching positions at the OJHS and moved the family to Owosso Michigan. During the summers, they took their young family on extended camping trips until 1974 when they began spending the summers at Putter’s Lake George. Following their retirement in 1990, the couple moved to Lake George where they lived during the summers, and in the colder months, traveled in their RV. Over the past 12 years, Putter modeled resilience, and despite medical issues, never complained and continued to enjoy entertaining at the lake, boating, playing bridge, and occasionally going to the casino.

Survivors include her husband, Richard, children, Leif, Dawn (Gallo), and Lane, grandchildren, Amanda (Griffin), Joseph (Gallo), Lazar, Laurel, a sister, Florence (Townsend), a brother David (Harding), and many close nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends. She was preceded in death by sons, Brent and Glenn, and siblings, George (Harding), Virginia (Salsbury), Ross (Harding), Robert (Harding), and Delores (Somers).

Visitation will be held from 10:30 am until 11:30 am on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at Beams Funeral Home, Fremont, Indiana and a Memorial Service will follow at 11:30 am with Rev. Donna Holcomb officiating. Burial ceremony will follow at Jamestown Cemetery, and a luncheon will be held at the Timbers restaurant in Angola 1-4 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Putter’s memory may be directed to the Lake George Conservancy at https://lakegeorgeinfo.net.

For those unable to attend the Memorial Service please click the link below to join the service via a live zoom webinar at 11:30 am:

https://hagerty.zoom.us/j/96676650132?pwd=jp7RFT8OGU1oLltSX9DYhFrnoJpvfw.LJLQdv1CW43Q5Btc

Passcode: 123456