Marlene Christensen

Marlene Mae Poppenga Christensen - March 14, 1931 – January 26, 2011. Funeral services will be at 10:00am Saturday, February 5, 2011 at the United Methodist Church, Hurley with burial in the Hurley Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-7:00pm Friday at the Hofmeister-Jones Funeral Chapel, Hurley with family present from 6-7:00pm. Marlene Poppenga was born on March 14, 1931, to Reiner S. (Pete) and Sena (DeBoer) Poppenga on their farm near Davis, South Dakota. Nine years later a brother, Jimmie Dean, joined the family. Marlene attended Lennox High School and General Beadle State Teachers College in Madison, South Dakota. She taught grades 1-8 at the Vietor School District #20 country school three miles south of Chancellor. On May 25, 1952, Marlene married Virgil R. Christensen at the Turner County First Presbyterian Church. They farmed and resided near Hurley, South Dakota, until they retired and moved to Sioux Falls in 2005. Marlene resided at Bethany Lutheran Nursing Home for over four years. Marlene was a member of the Hurley American Legion Auxiliary, the Hurley United Methodist Church, and the United Methodist Women. She served in several offices for the American Legion Auxiliary and United Methodist Women. Marlene faithfully served as the organist for the Hurley United Methodist Church for over 40 years. Marlene taught piano lessons for many years to scores of students. Marlene worked with a group of women from the United Methodist Church who hand-quilted several quilts for church members and friends. She also loved to create things by crocheting, embroidering, sewing, and writing. Marlene's original writings were written and performed for many special occasions and celebrations for family members and friends. Preceding her in death are her parents Sena and Pete Poppenga and her brother Jimmie. Marlene is survived by her husband Virgil; children Daniel Christensen of Hurley, Jeanne (Jim) Goodman of Pierre, and Linda Christensen of Phoenix, Arizona; grandchildren Amy (Greg) Johnson, David (Kelly) Christensen, and Brooke Christensen of Hurley, Greg (Wanda) Goodman and Allen Goodman of Pierre; and great-grandchildren Austin and Hunter Johnson and Dylan and MacKenzie Christensen of Hurley and Jackson Goodman of Pierre. The family requests memorials be sent to Make-A-Wish Foundation.