Marlene Ruth Fishbaugher, age 87, of Harmony, Minn., died Wednesday, November 1, 2017, at the Gundersen Harmony Care Center. Funeral services were held 11 a.m., Monday, November 6, 2017, at the United Methodist Church in Harmony, with interment following in Prairie Queen Cemetery, rural Preston. Friends called from 2-6 p.m. Sunday, November 5, at the Lindstrom Funeral Home in Harmony and on Monday from 10 a.m. until time of services at the church.
Marlene was born October 3, 1930, in Cresco, Iowa, to Selmer and Ruth (Weyrauch) Jacobson. She graduated from Preston High School in 1948 and in 1952 received a degree in English from Hamline University in St. Paul. She taught English the following school year, 1952–1953.
Marlene married Harvey Carl Fishbaugher on April 19, 1953, at Greenfield Lutheran Church in Harmony. Together they farmed the Fishbaugher family farm in Bristol Center and on her own she worked at the meat locker. Marlene was active in the Church of the Brethren as a Sunday School teacher, served on the church board, and as a deacon. Marlene was an asset to the community with the volunteer work she did at the nursing home, historical center, and Meals on Wheels. Through Amish tours she made a lot of friends amongst the Amish community.
Marlene is survived by three children: Douglas (special friend, Edie) Fishbaugher of Randolph, Wis., Donald (special friend, Karla) Fishbaugher of Preston, Minn., and Debra (Jeff) Finley of Chatfield, Minn.; eight grandchildren: Heath (Janelle) Fishbaugher, Holly (David) Blongia, Heidi (Michael) Blongia, Timothy (Aurie) Finley, Josh (friend Alice) Finley, Christopher Finley, Melissa (fiancé Joshua) Finley, and Madison Fishbaugher, along with many great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild on the way. She was preceded in death by her husband Harvey, a daughter, Doris; a daughter-in-law, Suzie; and two brothers, Arden and Frederick.