Marilyn Joyce (Borgeson) Gisselquist,

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. Age 90 of Minneapolis. Died peacefully at Lyngblomsten Care Center in St. Paul on February 21, 2020.

Marilyn was born June 22, 1929 in Moline, Illinois to Folke and Inez Borgeson. She grew up in Sheyenne, North Dakota, and graduated from high school there in 1947. Marilyn graduated from Luther Junior College in Wahoo, Nebraska in 1949, attended Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis, and received her B.A. from Augsburg College in Minneapolis.

In 1956, she married Orloue N. Gisselquist, who was then a widower with three young boys (Richard, age 11, David, age 9 and Peter, age 6). By 1960, they added son Gregory James and daughter Mary Beth to their family.

Marilyn directed church children’s choirs for nearly 25 years. She had fond memories of years in the ‘60s and early ‘70s directing more than 150 children in three separate choirs at the University Lutheran Church of Hope.

In the 1950s Marilyn taught elementary school in McClusky, North Dakota and Paynesville, Minnesota. From 1973 to 1993, she taught the early grades at Pratt, Seward and Anne Sullivan Elementary schools in Minneapolis. Thirty plus years of teaching and children’s choirs gave Marilyn loving memories of hundreds of children. Over the years, she’s enjoyed running into many of them; many have looked her up.

Through 25 years of retirement, Marilyn pursued interests in writing, travel, reading, cross-stitch, and active involvement at Becketwood, the apartment cooperative where she lived. She was the central, vital hub around which family events were planned; a force of nature, even if just from her recliner in the last years.

She is survived by children Mary Beth Sage (Brian Mundt) of Minneapolis, Gregory (Barbara Schultz) of Vadnais Heights, Peter of Minneapolis, and David (Carol) of Hershey, PA; grandchildren Kenneth (Jane), Daniel (Tracy), Sarah McAdams (Chuck McAdams), Rachel (Omar McDoom), Natasha Derrickson, Kristen (Nate Boice) and Kyle (Vic) Mundt; Ten great grandchildren; sister Faye Lowe and brother Feryle (Betty) Borgeson; numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral service Saturday, February 29, 11 AM, St. Peder’s Lutheran Church. 4600 East 42^th Street, Minneapolis with visitation one hour before service. Private interment at Lakewood Cemetery. Memorials preferred to St. Peder’s Lutheran Church or the Gisselquist Church Music Scholarship Fund at Augsburg University.