Marilyn Gage, 96, Fargo, ND and formerly Valley City, ND, passed away Sunday, July 9, 2023 at her home. Her funeral service will be 11:00 am Saturday, July 15, 2023 at Northview Church, Fargo. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church. Burial will be in Memory Gardens, rural Valley City.
Marilyn Rebecca Johnson was born at her rural Kulm, ND family farmstead, on Sunday, April 24, 1927 to Ludwig Carl Johnson and Freja Augusta (Norgren) Johnson and was the 10th child out of 15 children. She attended school in Kulm where she learned to speak English as her parents settled in Kulm from Sweden. As a young woman, she moved nearer to her older siblings to work. She moved to Vancouver, WA where she was a launderer for the soldiers during the war and later to Minneapolis, MN where she worked as a housekeeper and at Donaldson’s Department Store.
Marilyn married the love of her life, Paul Gage, in a wedding ceremony at the Kulm Gospel Tabernacle on June 16, 1950. For the next 42 years they raised their family and operated their farm near Oriska, ND. Upon semi-retiring in 1992, they moved to Valley City and resided there until 2009 when they moved to Fargo. During their 65 years of marriage, they lived life working together and supporting each other in everything.
Marilyn was a true homemaker at heart loving to sew, quilt, and crochet. She was a member of Northview Church, Fargo and past member of First Assembly of God in Finley, the Nazarene Church, and New Life Assembly of God, both in Valley City. In each of these churches and communities, she was an active member of many groups. The Prime Time Choir from Northview Church holds a special place in her heart as she and Paul were both in this group and ministered through the gift of Southern Gospel music.
Marilyn is survived by her three children: Steve (Holly) Gage, Underwood, ND; Diane (David) Wagner, Moorhead, MN; and Linda (Rusty) Gage Pomerinke, San Diego, CA; seven grandchildren: Megan (Ethan) Cooper, Dr. Logan (Elizabeth) Gage, Dena (Jeff) Headrick, Darla (Tim) McDowell, Danielle (Ryan) Wagner Sutton, Derek (Amy) Wagner, and Delinda (John) Mueller. She is also survived by 14 great-grandchildren.
Marilyn is preceded in death by her husband, two newborn grandsons, her parents, and her 14 siblings.
Marilyn loved being with her family and always kept them close to her heart and in her prayers.
The funeral service will be 11:00 am Saturday, July 15, 2023 at Northview Church, Fargo. Burial will be in Memory Gardens, rural Valley City.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel. An online guestbook is available at www.olivernathanchapel.com