Marilyn Dorothy Brehmer

Marilyn Dorothy (Evans) Brehmer, 89, of Austin, Minnesota and formerly of Saint James, Minnesota, died November 2, 2024, at St. Mark's Living in Austin.

A Celebration of Life will take place in the First Presbyterian Church Social Hall in St. James, Minnesota on May 3, 2025, from 11am to 3pm. A reminder will be sent out as the time draws nearer.

Marilyn was born March 23,1935, to William Evans and Eunice (Jacobson) Evans in St. James, Minnesota. She was raised and attended school there. She married William Eugene Brehmer, her high school sweetheart, in St James, on July 25, 1952. Several months later their first child arrived, daughter, Rhonda Lynn Brehmer in 1953. She was joined by her sister, Barbara Jean Brehmer three years later and another sister, Susan Margaret Brehmer a year after that. Time for brothers, William Jeffery Brehmer in 1959 and Steven Michael Brehmer in 1961 and the family was complete!

Marilyn and Bill moved to Fairmont, Minnesota when the family was young and they enjoyed living there for several years. They later moved to Blue Earth, Minnesota when Bill took a job working for the American Bakeries Company delivering Tastee Bread to stores around the area until 1963 when Bill and Marilyn bought Duke's Place Supper Club from Duke and Irene Randall near St. James. It was located on the East end of Long Lake and consisted of the fine dining pavilion, dance hall, swimming beach, and four rental cabins. It was a busy life and an enjoyable life, for the most part! The adults were serving drinks and food and the kids sold candy and goodies at the candy stand to the swimmers at the swimming beach. As happens in all life, change comes. By 1970, it was time for that change. Duke's Place closed and Bill and Marilyn moved on to Windom, Minnesota, taking jobs at the Driftwood Supper Club and from there on to The Orchid Inn in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. Bill and Marilyn then managed the Easton Legion for several years before Bill was offered a job at the Austin Country Club. The family moved to Rose Creek, Minnesota for a few years until a new food/bar was opened in Austin, Minnesota," Tolly's Time Out "and Bill was offered the chef's position. Marilyn got a job at Kmart working in the accounting office. In her spare time, she was a volunteer for the Women's Crisis Center helping with abuse situations, a project close to her heart! Bill and Marilyn attended St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin and liked to participate by making lefse and food for their annual Lefse Sale in November each year.

Retirement was fast approaching and there was a search for something to keep them busy. Marilyn and Bill decided to take up woodcarving to foster their creative talents. They both came to enjoy it. They joined the local carving club, traveled to workshops, and carved many beautiful pieces. Marilyn loved painting the projects they made and they continued as long as possible. Everyone enjoyed having pieces of their work!

Marilyn loved to garden and enjoyed taking care of and nurturing the gardens of both vegetables and flowers. Kramer, their Yorkshire Terrier, was a constant companion. In fact, Kramer was the third of the Yorkies they had owned and by the time he had to be put down, Marilyn and Bill's memory disorders had both progressed. At that point, they had to leave their home and move into St. Marks's Living in Austin in 2018. At one point, after a visit to the hospital, their daughter, Barbara found a stuffed toy yorkie in the St. Mary's Gift Shop in Rochester and gave it to Marilyn. She loved that dog!!! So much so, there have been 19 stuffed toy yorkies over the years because one would disappear every now and then, so a stock of yorkies was always kept. They were such a comfort to Marilyn when she was hurting or upset. Kramer the 19th will be cremated with her and buried with her and Bill

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, William and Eunice (Jacobson) Evans; mother and father-in-law, Margaret (Kienholz) Brehmer and Eugene Brehmer; husband, William "Bill" Brehmer; daughter, Susan Jacobsen; grandson, Jason Becker; brother-in-law, Richard Romsdahl; nephew, Joe Romsdahl; great-grandparents; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Marilyn is survived by daughters, Rhonda (Douglas Raiche) Ostberg of Rochester, MN; and Barbara Korte of St. James, MN; sons, William (Sabrina) Brehmer of Castle Rock, CO; and Steven (Debbie) Brehmer of Austin, MN; grandchildren, Derrick Ostberg of Minneapolis, MN, Melissa (Evan) Kono of San Francisco, CA, Rick Esser of Mankato, MN, Macie Korte of Mankato, MN, Tanner Korte of Evansdale, IA, Brandon (Teaira) Korte, of Titonka, IA, Logan (Megan) Korte of Kodiak, AK, Brandy (Jason Schaefer) Becker of Rochester, MN, Shain (Stacie Major Becker) Becker of Parker, SD, Krystle (Mitch Turnbull) Foley of Lake Mills, IA, Chance (Trina Serna) Foley of Minnesota Lake, MN, Misty Brehmer of Minneapolis, MN; Aim'ee (Darren) Walsh of Castle Rock, CO, Lindsay Brehmer of Castle Rock, CO, William Brehmer, Jr. of Castle Rock, CO, Drake (Kourtnee) Brehmer of Austin, MN and Stephany (Jordan Hackensmith) Brehmer of Austin, MN; 27 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Jane Romsdahl of Littleton, CO and Nancy ( David ) Olson of Minneapolis, MN; son-in-law, Dennis Jacobsen; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.