Marlys Ramona Almer

85 years was not long enough. Those who called her Mom, Gram Bam, Grandma, Aunt Marlys, or just Marlys, will miss her ready smile and sweet, gentle nature. She was a totally unpretentious, hard-working, cheerful Norwegian – and proud of it! She had a wonderfully positive attitude about life and you never heard her complain. Marlys Ramona (Thompson) Almer, 85, died at Sanford Health on September 14, 2016, of complications following quadruple bypass surgery. Marlys was born in Wyndmere, ND, on October 15, 1930, to Hilda (Braaten) and George Thompson. She attended Viking Township country school and Viking Lutheran Church. She loved playing in the trees, listening to stories on the radio, and had good times with her brothers and sisters. She often wore braids in her hair and carried her lunch in a tin bucket to school. When attending Wyndmere High School, it was necessary to board in town, which left her very homesick and anxious for the weekend! Following graduation from high school, she attended Interstate Business College in Fargo and was then employed by Standard Oil Company. She married Alvin Almer in 1950 and they moved to the very “treeless” home place of Daniel Almer, north of Tuttle. In 1962 they moved to their present farm where she has since lived. Oh, how she missed the trees of home! Marlys was a dedicated farmer, wife, mom, sister, grandma, and friend. She fed many a hired man over the years and delivered “hot” meals to the fields for many (complete with homemade buns and pie for dessert). If you had a favorite dish or treat, she would try to have it on hand just for you! Thousands of yummy bars and cookies were consumed by visitors to her kitchen. She also embroidered, made quilts, and was an excellent seamstress. She milked a small herd of dairy cows by hand for years, until her kids were through college. When there was a shortage of help for field work she became the hay raker. Marlys was a great fan of the Tuttle Trojans and then the WTPR and WTP Wildcats and she attended many games in support of her children and grandchildren. When they were little, she delighted in reading books to them, as well as playing all kinds of games. She was a FUN Grandma and definitely her happiest times were spent with the grandkids, both when they were little and now as young adults. Recently her favorite pastimes included helping her son, Allen – however she could, doing crossword and jigsaw puzzles, playing dominoes, watching Jeopardy and the Hallmark channel, having coffee with friends, keeping up with the grandkids on Facebook, and traveling! Some of her most enjoyable trips were to Norway, Australia, New Zealand, and Alaska, as well as New York, Nashville, and Florida. Her daughter holds dear to her heart many memories of trips taken with her Mom. They also enjoyed many coffee and shopping outings together. In addition, Marlys loved spending time in Fargo with her good friend and sister-in-law, Marie Thompson. They were always on-the-go, be it to the Senior Center, to church, out to eat and shopping, or visiting friends; barely letting the tires on the car cool down before they had somewhere else to go. She made trips to and from Fargo with her grandson, Morgan, and they had great visits – Grandma trying NOT to doze and Morgan snapping a picture of her if she did! Marlys was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin; her son, Allen, on August 13, 2016; her brothers, Howard and LeRoy Thompson; her sister, Arlene Bishop; and her great-granddaughter, Jacqueline. She is survived and will always be missed by her daughter, Joni (Tracy) Magstadt, Tuttle; her daughter-in-law, Myra Almer, Tuttle; her son, Wes (Cindy) Almer, Tuttle; her sister-in-law, Marie Thompson, Fargo; her sister, Joyce Braaten, Hankinson; her brother, Armour Thompson, Wyndmere; her good friends, Kathy and Dean Fallgatter, Steele, and Elmer and Virginia Dockter, Bismarck; as well as eight great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Her kindness and great sense of humor will never be forgotten by her grandchildren, Morgan Almer (Kim Koenders), Marin Opp (Josh), Brooke DelVecchio (Mark), Drew Magstadt (Tiffany), Travis Almer (Michelle), Troy Almer (Rochelle), Joey Almer (Mary Feist), and Billi Jo Almer. “We want to tell you something, so there won’t be any doubt, you’re so wonderful to think of, but so hard to be without.” Funeral services will be held on Monday, September 19, at 10:00 AM at English Lutheran Church in Tuttle with Rev. Valerie Kinlan officiating. Burial will be at Viking Cemetery near Wyndmere, ND, at 4:00 PM with Rev Wayne Quibell officiating. Lunch and fellowship will follow both the funeral and burial. There will be no visitation.