Marion Dahlgren
Marion Sanford Dahlgren, 96, of Watford City, N.D. died early Saturday morning, Aug. 24, 2013, at the Hospice of The Valley Dobson Home in Chandler, Ariz., where she had been living most recently. Funeral services were held Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013, at First Lutheran Church in Watford City with interment at Schafer Cemetery.
Marion Jewel Riek was born Sept. 25, 1916, to Walter H. and Mabel (Pankratz) Riek at Rawson, N.D. She attended grade school at Rawson and graduated from high school at Arnegard, N.D. On June 1, 1937, she was united in marriage to Norman Sanford at Alexander, N.D. They farmed in the Rawson area before moving to Watford City, N.D. They had four children: Marilyn, David, James and Richard. Norman passed away Sept. 29, 1978.
Until her children were grown, Marion was a stay at home mother. She then went to work at the McKenzie County Courthouse as Deputy Registrar of Deeds. She held this position from 1970 until 1983 when she retired to marry George Dahlgren of Homer, Alaska. George and Marion went to Mesa, Ariz., to visit friends one winter and that changed where their winters would be spent. They did a lot of traveling for several years. George passed away in 1990. Marion spent many years volunteering at her new found winter home, Sun Life RV Resort, working in the post office from 1984 until January 2013 when she began having health issues.
Marion loved bowling and she and Norman managed the bowling alley in Watford City for several years. Other pastimes included playing bingo, working crossword puzzles, doing jigsaw puzzles, listening to Lawrence Welk music and even just looking out the window to see what the action was. She was always ready for a game of cards. She was a member of the Lutheran Church.
Marion died at Hospice of the Valley in Chandler, Ariz. on Aug. 23, 2013, after a short struggle with cancer. She is survived by her daughter, Marilyn (John) Jensen of Mesa, Ariz; sons, David (Donna Lou) Sanford of Watford City, N.D., James (Susan) Sanford of Eloy, Ariz., and Richard (Kim) Sanford of Williston, N.D; sister, Anna Mathieu of Sidney, Mont.; nine grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren and step-grandchildren; and by numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Norman Sanford and George Dahlgren; her parents; twin brother, Walter C. Riek; brother-in-law, Burt Mathieu; and grandson, David Jason Sanford.
Friends may share condolences and memories of Marion with the family online at www.fulkersons.com