Marie Salven Kellenberger

Marie Alvina Salven, was born on August 4, 1922, and grew up on her family farm Cylinder, Iowa. Born to Norwegian-American farmers, Marie was the youngest child of 3, having had an older brother and sister. Her mother, died of scarlet fever when Marie was just 6 years old. Her father remarried and her step-mother, Zola, cared for her and her 2 siblings as a wonderful and nurturing parent—a valuable gift that she later could share with her own 2 step-daughters.

A child of the Great Depression, Marie clearly learned early lessons in resourcefulness from her parents, another gift she put to good use throughout her life. She didn’t speak much of her childhood, but in later years, she regaled us with stories about farm life, albeit without much embellishment. We learned of the chickens, whose eggs she gathered, and cows she milked. She once described the insert to their washing machine, an early version of one that ran on electricity, that churned butter to be sold in town. To help make ends meet, her father worked as an auctioneer, in addition to his farming. Sadly, the Depression saw the foreclosure of many farms, which supplemented the family income but must have brought mixed feelings to her father, to say the least.

Marie graduated from Waldorf College, and quickly took a job working as a bookkeeper for Swift & Co., which took her to Massachusetts and then to Greensboro where she spent the rest of her life. Well before the computerization of today, ledger sheets were done by hand and Marie’s were lovely and meticulous. Until her health began to decline, Marie kept clear and concise records of personal and family business transactions throughout her live.

Marie played the piano and the organ, and sang alto, and upon moving to Greensboro, she joined the choir at First Presbyterian Church. John Kellenberger, a prominent businessman in Greensboro, was also in the choir and he had a widowed nephew with 2 young daughters. John arranged for his nephew, Charles, to bring Marie to the choir picnic at John’s farm just outside of town. Clearly there was chemistry there, or maybe, it’s just a testament to Marie’s skill as a baker and cook, but it seems that whenever she brought a pie to John and May Gordon, Charles would manage to stop by for a visit. Whatever the catalyst, it worked. As Charles and Marie married in November 1954.

Until retirement, Marie joined Charles in running the family-owned Shady Lawn Motel on West Market St. between the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Greensboro College. It was a favorite of college visitors, furniture market buyers, and Maryland basketball fans. Notable guests were Gen. William Westmorland, famed ornithologist, Roger Tory Petersen, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

In retirement, they enjoyed golf, bridge, and travelling to see family and the world. Marie loved to travel and continued to do so long after becoming widowed. Among her long-distance trips, was a memorable one to Australia with her middle daughter, Anne. With her strong Norwegian roots, Marie always dreamed of going to Norway. After booking a trip to Norway, she found out that her Waldorf College Alumni Choir was making a trip to Norway that same year. So, to hedge her bets in case one was cancelled, she booked them both and went twice. Much closer to home, she often drove the 7-plus hours to Columbia, MD, to visit her daughter, Susan, son-in-law, Guy, and later, the real star of the show, grandson, Ian.

Marie also continued to play golf into her 80’s and managed a hole-in-one quite late in life. She put her considerable sewing skills to work making drapes for the house they bought and later made drapes for her daughter, Susan, when she bought a house. She made a large stuffed bunny for her Ian to celebrate his impending birth. She was known for putting together a bit of costume for her Halloween outfits. She loved doing community service at First Pres, knitting baby caps and make baby quilts, showing her creative side by drawing her own animal designs.

In 1993, Marie moved to Wellspring, where she joined the choir, the handbell choir, a ballroom dancing group, and contract and duplicate bridge groups. She was famous in church and Wellspring circles for her rolls—always a crowd-pleaser. Once you tasted one of her rolls, it was easy to see why Charles managed to hone in on those pies so many years earlier! Even after moving to assisted living and even skilled nursing care, she continued to participate in activities. Her game was bingo and she cherished those bingo winnings. One caregiver recently asked Guy if Marie had played the piano because, she had noticed Marie’s hands moving over an imaginary keyboard during a recital for Wellspring residents. Marie maintained a strong faith in God throughout her life, playing piano for her Sunday School class, and a regular attendee at Sunday worship until she could no longer get out. In her final days, Marie frequently would say, “I want to go home now.” We trust that she is there now with Charles and all the saints before her.

Marie is survived by her daughter, Susan Kellenberger Moody, Susan’s husband, Guy, 6 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband, Charles, her step-daughters Eleanor Jean Leek, Mary Anne Cox, their husbands, Jerry Leek and Samuel Cox, and one grandson, Michael Cox.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to First Presbyterian Church, Greensboro or the Wellspring Employee Assistance Fund.