Marlene Smouse

Marlene Vernett Smouse, age 89, of Scranton, passed away May 22 at the Greene County Medical Center.

A private funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. May 29 at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Scranton. Casket bearers will be Marlene’s family.

A public graveside service will be held at the Scranton Twp. Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. May 29. Those in attendance at the cemetery are asked to abide by COVID-19 social distancing guidelines.

Those who wish may send memorials to: The Family of Marlene Smouse, c/o Jeanette McGreevy, 514 N. Washington Ave., Apt A, Madison, SD 57042.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Scranton and online condolences may be left for Marlene’s family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com.

Marlene was born on Nov. 12, 1930, in Barron, Wis., and was the daughter of August and Mildred (Johnson) Olson.

She grew up in Duluth, Minn., and her family moved to Hermantown, Minn., where she graduated from high school. She worked in Duluth for several years following high school and then moved to Coon Rapids.

She was married to Charles Smouse on Sept. 15, 1950, at Salem Covenant Church in Duluth. The couple made their home near Coon Rapids, where Charlie farmed and Marlene was active in the farming operation. 

They moved to a farm near Scranton when their children were young. They moved into town in the early ’90s and retired from farming shortly thereafter.

Marlene was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Scranton and the United Methodist Women for more than 40 years. She loved singing in the choir, serving meals at the church and decorating the fellowship hall and sanctuary for the seasons.

She belonged to the Needle Club in Coon Rapids and the LaDene Club in Scranton.  Marlene was an avid Minnesota Vikings, Twins and Gophers fan. 

Marlene is survived by her three children and their families: Tim Smouse, of Delhi; Jeanette McGreevy, of Madison, S.D.; and Nancy Calvert (Randy), of St. Charles; two grandchildren: Colton Calvert, of Story City, and Ethan Calvert, of St. Charles; three sisters: Julee Malm (Doug), of Onekama, Mich.; Nancy Wilson (Eddie), of Charlotte, N.C.; and Bonnie Olson-Lane, of Hurley, Wis.; a sister-in-law, Maxine Smouse, of Coon Rapids; and several nieces and nephews.

Marlene was preceded in death by her parents, August and Mildred Olson; her in-laws, Don and Emma Smouse; seven siblings; a son, Scott, in infancy; and her husband Charles Smouse in 2014.