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Marlene Ramona Palmquist-Larsen of Ephrata, Washington left to join our Lord on July 5, 2015 at the age of 78. She was deeply loved by her family and friends. Marlene was born in Rolette, North Dakota on July 14, 1936 to Margaret and Louis Lilleby. She spend the first six years of her life on the Lilleby farm outside of Dunseith, North Dakota. When she was entering third grade, the family moved into a new house that her dad and granddad had built in town. She remembered thinking they must be the richest people in town because they now had tap water, electric lights and flush toilets. At the age of 10, her parents sold their taxi business and moved out west to Palouse, Washington. It was in Palouse that she met her high school sweetheart, Ken Palmquist. When she was a senior in high school the family moved to Spokane where Marlene graduated from North Central High School. She and Ken were married just out of high school. Ken was drafted into the Army. Mike, their first son, was born while he was serving in Korea. After Ken was discharged they lived in Spokane, where son Tim was born. In 1958, they decided to start their first business venture, a small office machine business in Omak, WA. At that time their daughter Jill was born. They loved Omak, but the office machine business was not a boomer, so the family moved to Wenatchee. There Marlene went to work for Stone and Webster Engineers as a receptionist during the building of Rocky Reach Dam. In 1963, they moved to Ephrata, WA to manage the Hi-U Motel for her parents. When it was sold, Ken and Marlene purchased Columbia Paint Store from Clink and Bert Bershinsky expanding the business to include wall coverings and glass. In addition, they loved to fix up old houses and either rent or resell them. After having the paint and glass store for fifteen years they sold the business to Larry and Casey White. While deciding what next venture to take on, Marlene took a real estate class at Big Bend Community College and obtained her real estate license and later a broker’s license. She started selling real estate with Les Parr Realty. When Ken got his real estate license, they purchased Century 21 Realty. Besides owning their own real estate company, they built mini warehouses and owned/managed rental properties. After Marlene and Ken were divorced, she moved to Yuma, AZ where she continued to work in real estate for the next ten years. She won many local, state and national awards for her company including receiving an award in Nashville on the Grand Ole Opry stage for being one of the top ten closing agents in the nation. During the years in Yuma, she always took the summers off to hurry back home to Ephrata. Marlene’s happiest times were when her home was full of family and friends. She and Ken were re-married after ten years. They had ten wonderful years of traveling, cruising, camping with their RV friends, the Wannigans, and being snowbirds in Yuma before Ken passed away in 2004. In 2005, Marlene attended an all class reunion in Palouse and met Arlan Larsen, a friend from her high school days. They had both lost their spouses the year before, something clicked and the rest was history. Marlene and Arlan were married at the Yuma Indian Mission in March 2006. They both loved traveling and visiting friends and family. They continued to winter in Yuma. Arlan loved Marlene. He took such excellent care of her through both the good and bad days of her battle with cancer. Some of the activities that Marlene was involved in were: Campfire Girls, Boy Scouts, Jr. Women’s Club, Christian Women’s organizations both in Yuma and Ephrata, WITI (Women Into Investments), TOPS club in Yuma and Ephrata, HCE (Home and Community Educators), St. Rose Church, YLI (Young Ladies Institute) and the Wannigan RV’ers. Basketball, softball and track events were rarely missed while her kids were growing up. Marlene was an advocate for the elderly serving as an Ombudsman to the local nursing homes. Relay for Life was another cause dear to her heart. Her family came each year honoring both she and Arlan as long time cancer survivors. Marlene was a devout Christian and loved the Lord with all of her heart. She started Bible studies in her Yuma Park and treasured the fellowship of the ladies involved. They found the answered prayers and the wisdom God showed through His word so rewarding. Marlene is survived by her beloved husband, Arlan Larsen; children, K. Michael (Karen) Palmquist of West Seattle, Tim Palmquist of Grand Junction, CO and Jill Palmquist of Ephrata; sister Judy (Pat) Molitor of Moses Lake; three granddaughters and nine great grandchildren, Michele Sharpes (Greg) and children Anna, Sean and Ryan of Clarkston, WA, Christine Melby (Matt) and children Erika, Nicole and Ali of Snoqualmie, WA, Melissa Hoey (Jonathan) and children Braden, Adi and Taylor of San Antonio, TX; three step-children, Laura Larsen of Weiser, ID, Bruce Larsen (Renee) of Arlington, WA and Neal Larsen of Bonnie Lake, WA and many loving nieces and nephews. Marlene was preceded in death by her husband, Ken Palmquist, parents Louis and Margaret Lilleby, brother Raynor Lilleby, sister-in-law Kathy Lilleby and a great grandson, Isaac Sharpes. Viewing will be at the Nicoles Funeral Home in Ephrata on Thursday July 9, 2015 from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. The Rosary will be held 7:00 p.m. Thursday July 9, 2015 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church 323 D Street SW Ephrata. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church 323 D Street SW Ephrata on Friday July 10, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. with gravesite service at the Ephrata Catholic Cemetery. Reception to follow in church basement. Father Seamus Kerr with the assistance of Father Miguel Gonzalez will be presiding. Arrangements are by Nicoles Funeral Home and St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. The family wishes to share their heartfelt thankfulness to the (earthly angels) of Hospice and the St. Rose of Lima Family that extended their time and genuine caring for Mom during these last few months. Memorial contributions may be given to St. Rose of Lima Catholic School scholarship fund, Relay for Life (American Cancer Society) or the charity of your choice.

Tributes

Marlene R Palmquist-Larsen

July 14, 1936 - July 5, 2015