Marilyn M. Christianson

To watch a recording of the service, please use the link: https://youtu.be/RsF403S0sws 

Marilyn Christianson finished the earthly phase of her life on December 9, 2025 at her home in Grand Forks, with family around her.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at Zion United Methodist Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Visitation will be held 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. prior to the service at the church. Burial will be held in the Spring of 2026 at Memorial Park North Cemetery in Grand Forks, North Dakota. If desired, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or to an animal charity of your choice.

Marilyn Mae Clemmons was born September 29, 1932 at her parents’ home in Viroqua, Wisconsin, the daughter of Lloyd Clemmons and Mayme Clemmons (Hunziker).

Marilyn graduated from Beardsley High School in 1950 as the class valedictorian. Marilyn attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Dietetics in 1954. She interned at the Veterans’ Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.

While at UND, Marilyn met the love of her life in Leonard Christianson, who was also known as Chris. Marilyn and Leonard married August 8, 1954 at Riverside United Methodist Church in Park Rapids, Minnesota.

They moved to Kettering, Ohio and lived there for many years, raising their four children, along with numerous four-legged family members. They later spent time in Grafton, North Dakota before settling in Grand Forks.

Marilyn was actively involved in church activities and music organizations in the region. She was an accomplished pianist and enjoyed playing and sharing that love of music with her children. She loved opera, musicals, animals of all kinds, reading books and solving puzzles. But she especially loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and greatly enjoyed watching all of their endeavors and personal achievements.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents Lloyd and Mayme, her husband Leonard, her sister Jeanne Peterson Clegg, her infant sister Carol Clemmons and her infant brother Richard Clemmons. She was also preceded in death by sister-in-law Judy Christianson, brothers-in-law Ed Christianson, Bob Nordlie, John Peterson, and Walt Nelson, and by her niece Melissa Nordlie and nephew Tom Christianson.

Marilyn is survived by her children Eric (Cindy) Christianson, Mark (Eileen) Christianson, David (Amy) Christianson, Janet Christianson, her grandchildren Iris Christianson, Dan Christianson (Dianna), and Ryan Christianson (Sarah) and three great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Kay Nelson, her sisters-in-law Sally Nordlie, Mary Jo Christianson, Susan Christianson, her brother-in-law Tom Clegg, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Quiet by nature, Marilyn was a very loving, sweet person to anyone she met. She will be greatly missed by everyone.