Marjorie Arlene Cripe

September 18, 2023, Marjorie Arlene Cripe passed away at the Alexander Cohen Hospice House in Hughson, CA. After her initial cancer diagnosis, she was given 6 months to live but this was 27 months ago. Her Creator gave her extended time to spend with family and other loved ones and to pray and study the Bible.

Marjorie was born in Winona, Minnesota on March 9, 1933 to John and Freda Diekrager. It was in her early years where her faith was nurtured by life on the farm and by a natural curiosity which made her wonder, “How was this created?”. This inquisitiveness never left her, and her faith could be characterized by Psalm 19: 1–4

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”

She graduated from Winona State University in 1952 at the age of 19 and taught elementary school in Winona, Minnesota for a few years. She eventually moved to California where she met Carl Everett Cripe. At one point they drove from California to Minnesota and after that trip, decided to get married on August 17, 1957. They were married for 59 years, until his passing on August 18, 2016.

Carl and Marjorie both were teachers and had three children: Paul, Kevin, and Ruth. The last 27 years of her teaching were spent at Catherine Everett Elementary School in Modesto City Schools where she taught lower elementary students. She was a greatly loved and respected teacher who enjoyed her students as much as they enjoyed being in her classroom.

After retiring, Carl and Marjorie were able to travel the world and went to China, Israel, and several countries in Europe. They also owned a cabin near Buckhorn, California where both family and friends were always welcome. A ministry that Carl and Marj shared together was working with the homeless and people who struggled with drug and alcohol abuse. Each person’s life mattered to them, and they practiced their faith through compassionate works that were guided by God’s Holy Spirit.

Central to Marjorie’s life was her commitment to learn God’s Word and share her faith with others. She memorized thousands of Bible verses and freely shared her love of Scripture with everyone. Carl and Marjorie’s belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior was the guiding light which help direct them through life’s challenges. She could be seen at her kitchen table early each morning pouring over her beloved Bible and praying regularly for friends and family.

In May of 2021, Marjorie was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. She met that challenge head on, without fear. While the subsequent days were not always easy, there was no dimming of her spirit. There were good days, and what she labeled as “90-year-old days” and “Lord come quickly” days. But throughout each day, whether good or bad, her faith never wavered.

Marjorie is survived by her 3 children: Paul (Bobbi), Kevin, and Ruth Meinen (Todd), her six grandchildren Stephanie Vergara (Eddie), Jose Cripe, Kevin Cripe Jr, Alejandra Cripe, David Meinen (Breann) and Dana Meinen, two great grandchildren, Ana Lucia Vergara and Julian Cripe and her younger brother Wayne Diekrager of Minnesota.

Marjorie was proceeded in death by her parents, John and Freda Diekrager, her husband Carl Cripe, her older brother John Diekrager, granddaughters Jenna Cripe Coe and Danielle Meinen, and great grandchildren Nolvidado, Angel and Aryn Vergara.

Mom, we are delighted that you’re in heaven with your beloved Savior, but you are greatly missed here on earth. We love you!

Committal Service following immediately after Funeral Service, then a reception to follow immediately after Committal Service.

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