Marlyn “Marlie” Fisher, 87, of Fargo, North Dakota, formerly of Kathryn, North Dakota, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 17, 2024, at Sanford Health Center on North Broadway in Fargo.
Marlyn Stevens was born on March 4, 1937, in Kathryn, the daughter of Martin and Flora (Hellickson) Stevens. She attended school in the Kathryn area and graduated from Kathryn High School in 1955. After graduation, she moved to Fargo, where she worked as a nurse’s aide at St. John’s Hospital. Shortly thereafter, she began working as a telephone operator for the phone company.
Marlie met Delton Hesse, and they married on April 12, 1959. The couple made their home in Valley City, North Dakota, where Marlie continued working as a telephone operator. As Delton was a teacher, the family moved to various towns over the years. They lived in McLaughlin, South Dakota, before moving to Arthur, North Dakota, in 1960. In 1964, they relocated to Lake Park, Minnesota, where Marlie worked as a nurse’s aide from 1967 to 1968. In 1968, the family moved to Estacada, Oregon, and in 1972, Marlie resumed her career as a telephone operator.
Marlie married Paul Fisher in 1975. The couple lived in the Seattle, Washington, area for a short time before moving to Jamestown, North Dakota, later that year, where Marlie continued working as an operator. In 1982, they relocated to Fargo, where Marlie had been transferred for work, and Paul returned to his career in trucking. Marlie retired from the phone company in 1996, and Paul retired from trucking in 2000. They then made their retirement home in Kathryn, where they became a team—Paul working on various city projects and Marlie assisting with administrative duties. Despite staying busy, they always found time to visit family and friends, which they both cherished.
Paul passed away on March 22, 2021. After his passing, Marlie moved to Valley City and, in 2023, returned to Fargo to live near her daughter, Stephanie.
Marlie was active in her church, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Kathryn. She loved doing crossword puzzles and other word games, and she enjoyed baking for her family and community events.
Marlie is survived by her son, Mark Hesse of St. Cloud, Minnesota; her daughters, Stephanie Hesse of Fargo; Cory Fisher of Sparks, Nevada; and Heidi Fisher of Williamsburg, Virginia; her granddaughter, Courtney (Adrian) Davis; and two great-grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Barbara Boblett and Rose Fisher.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Fisher, and her daughter, Shaundel Hesse.
The funeral service for Marlie will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Kathryn. Burial will follow at St. Paul’s Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel in Valley City. An online guestbook is available at www.olivernathanchapel.com.