Lillian Marsaa
Funeral services were held Wednesday, May 11, 2011, at Leeds Lutheran Church, Leeds, for Lillian “Toots” Marsaa, 88, of Fargo, formerly of Leeds and Devils Lake, who died Thursday, May 5 at Bethany Cares in Fargo.
Burial was in the church cemetery.
Lillian was born Aug. 30, 1922, in Springfield Township, Towner County, a daughter of Albert and Lena (Somdalen) Berg. She started school in a one-room country grade school, graduated from York High School in 1941, and attended Aaker’s Business College, Grand Forks. She married Richard Marsaa on Oct. 16, 1942. In 1944, she contracted polio. In 1947, the couple moved to Brinsmade, where she was the telephone switchboard operator and wrote local news for the Benson County Farmers Press. They moved to Leeds in 1956, and worked side-by-side as owners of the Gamble Store. Upon their retirement, the couple moved to Yuma, Ariz. In 1994, they moved to Devils Lake. Richard died in 2005. She continued to live in Devils Lake until moving to the Heartland Care Center. In May 2007, she moved to Bethany Cares Center, Fargo.
She is survived by her daughter, Donna Lemar; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; sister, Alma Berg; and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.
She was active in her church, serving as a VBS teacher, ladies aid officer, and choir member, and longtime member of the Brinsmade Homemakers Club.
Pastor Richard Budd officiated. Music was provided by Nancy Silliman, vocalist, and Dorothy Stuberg, pianist.
Casketbearers were Randall Lemar, James Lemar, Corrina Lemar, Carmen Lemar, Kelby Lemar, and Brennan Lemar.
Arrangements by Nelson Funeral Home, Leeds.