Marie Dahlenburg

Marie Dahlenburg, 92, Mountain Lake, MN died Sunday, June 5, 2011 at Pleasant View Good Samaritan Center, St. James, MN. Marie Alvina (Olfert) Dahlenburg was born to David and Agnes (Schultz) Olfert June 22, 1918 at their rural home in Lustre, MT. She received her education in a local country school and also attended the local Bible School for two winters. In 1949 she graduated from the Christian Education Course at Grace Bible Institute (now Grace University) and in 1950 with a B.A. Degree in Bible. Marie accepted Jesus as her personal Savior at an early age, but lacked the assurance of salvation until some years later. September 11, 1932 she was baptized and became a member of the Lustre Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church. In obedience to God's call, Marie served as a missionary in Japan for 33 years. She was commissioned by the Far Eastern Gospel Crusade (now SEND International) on October 30, 1950 and by her home church November 19, 1950. She left the west coast via ship December 1, 1950 and arrived in Japan December 31st. Her work included church ministry in Zushi, as well as Dean of the Japan Missionary Language Institute, Tokyo until her retirement in 1983. Upon retirement Marie settled in Henderson, Nebraska. On June 25, 1988, she married Rev. Paul Dahlenburg, a retired minister. They were actively involved in the Lushton Bible Church, Lushton, Nebraska. Together they enjoyed trips to Japan, Hawaii, Florida and Alaska. The gift of hospitality was evident in their home as they welcomed many guests. Their daily life was characterized by intercessory prayer for their family and friends and Christian ministries around the world. On September of 1998, Paul and Marie moved to Mountain Lake, MN, transferring their church membership to the First Mennonite Church of Butterfield. Together they resided in Mountain Lake until Paul's death. Marie continued to live there until moving to Pleasant View Good Samaritan Center in St. James, April 19, 2011. Marie died June 5, 2011 at the age of 92 years, 11 months and 14 days. Marie is survived by five step children: JoAnn and her husband David Loewen of Farmington, MI, Treva and her husband Larry Steinle of St. James, Pauline and her husband Herb Schroeder of Sioux Falls, SD, Ken Dahlenburg and his wife Sharon of Lincoln, NE and Larry Dahlenburg and his wife Beth of Lake Barrington, IL; 15 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchldren; a brother Clarence Olfert and his wife Esther of Billings, MT; a sister-in-law Frieda Olfert of Canada, a step-sister Dorothy Peters of Canada; nieces, nephews and other relatives. Marie was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Paul; three sisters: Gladys Olfert, Sara Heide and Edna Enzi; a brother, David Olfert, step-mother, Anna (Peters) Olfert; a step-sister, Stella Rempel; step brothers: Edwin Allen and Ron Peters Memorials may be designated for camp project in Japan through SEND International