Marvel Constance (Bowers) Rider was born on January 6, 1930, in Dore, ND, to her parents, Robert and Lillian (Stubbs) Bowers. Her dad, a veterinarian from Ireland, named her “Marvel” and teased her, saying that they had found her under a cabbage leaf in the garden. We suppose, if that were true, it would make her the original “Cabbage Patch Kid”! Marvel grew up in a family of five sisters and three brothers. She attended her primary and high school grades in Fairview, MT. In her high school years, she worked part-time at a grocery store in Fairview, where she met the love of her life, Clayton “Bud” Rider. It was the year 1946 around Thanksgiving time, and Bud had just returned from the War in Europe. By June of 1947, they were married and off on their honeymoon to Niagara Falls! The following year was spent in Townsend, where Bud managed a ranch. In 1948, their son, Bob, was born and they returned to the Sidney area when Bud accepted a position with the Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project. Their family grew by three daughters, Linda, Barb and Cherie, and they spent 38 happy years raising their family and living in the Ridgelawn Community, north of Sidney. During this period of her life, Marvel was employed as a nurse’s aide at Richland Homes, and worked for 10 years as a clerk at Turner Drug Store. Bud eventually became Project Manager, and in 1986 they moved to the Circle Subdivision. In 1990 they settled at Sage Lily Drive in Sidney where they enjoyed their retirement years together.
Marvel was blessed with many amazing talents, including the gift of playing piano, “by ear”. Marvel and Bud really enjoyed dancing whenever they had the chance. Marvel had a lovely soprano voice to compliment Bud’s bass vocals, and they enjoyed many years of singing in the choir at Pella Lutheran Church. Their strong Christian faith was most evident throughout their lives. Marvel baked the greatest apple pies, and always turned out fantastic potato salad. She enjoyed sewing, flower gardening, especially roses, and was a true friend and advocate for certain furry four-footed creatures.
Bud passed away in June of 2005, Marvel moved to The Lodge at Lone Tree Creek in October, and became a resident of Extended Care in December of that same year. Marvel passed away peacefully at Sidney Health Center Extended Care on Monday, November 6, 2017.
Marvel is survived by: her three daughters, Linda (Harry) Miller, Barbara (Don) Badt, and Cherie (Larry) Rogness; her grandchildren, Kristin (Pete) Senger, Lynette (Chris) Clark, Ryan (Jana) Rogness, Jared (Courtney) Rogness, and Jessica (Nick) Ochiltree; her great grandchildren, Meaghan and Lauren Winder, Evan and Leona Rogness, Reagan and Jackson Clark, and Scartlett Rogness; her sister, Kathleen LaCounte; and many nieces and nephews.
Marvel was preceded in death by: her husband, Bud; her son, Bob; her parents and siblings.
Also surviving Marvel, are all of the beautiful and caring souls of the residents and caretakers that she was blessed to share her life with while at Extended Care. We are so very thankful for the love you invested into the care and compassion that allowed Mom to feel “at home” with you in her final years.
As children, Mom told us about her best friend, Jesus, and taught us to pray. We have always held her faith in reverence and the faith of our Dad as well. It is her faith that comforts us, and allows us to lay her peacefully to rest now. We believe that she is walking with Jesus just as surely as she did her whole life through, and that final step into eternity was just as natural to her as any she took on earth.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6