Marilyn Roxy Deming was born on February 12, 1952 to Victor Roscoe and Hazel Brandt Deming on her way to the Sidney Hospital which made a small article in the local paper. As quoted “On the advice of Dr. Gordon Merrian, the potential parents Roscoe and Hazel Deming took off for Memorial Hospital Tuesday evening with the belief they would arrive in time for the birth of their child, they were accompanied by their brother-in-law Earl Harden. Mr. and Mrs. Deming were slightly delayed in their start. When the Deming’s arrived at the hospital, the stork had overtaken them and there were four in the car rather than three when they started out. Marilyn was born en route to the hospital in her parents car.”
Marilyn grew up and went to school in Fairview, MT. She spent her days riding horses and working with her family on the Deming farm. Marilyn was the youngest of eight children, six brothers and one sister. Marilyn graduated from Fairview High School in 1972, and a short time later she met Leonard Bakken and they wed on October 18, 1974. After they married, they resided in Sidney on his parents farm. They welcomed their first child Jessica Jean in February of 1975, and their second child Roxanne Stephanie in April of 1979. Marilyn and Lenny were together for 14 years before deciding to separate in the spring of 1988.
Marilyn continued to live in Sidney with her daughters; it was hard to adjust to single parent life. She took odd jobs to make ends meet. Marilyn always made sure her daughters were taken care of. They made family a priority either by having movie nights or visiting family on the weekends.
In the spring of 1992, Marilyn got her job at Richland Extended Care Homes starting in laundry. Marilyn was a dedicated employee. She worked in laundry for several years before switching over to housekeeping. Marilyn always made it a priority to say hi to all of the residents at extended care when she came into work. Over the years many employees came to respect mom for her hard work. She also had become known as the tiny woman with a big appetite. Mom has always been a kind woman and polite to the people that she met. Mom enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren.
On June 21, 2018 Marilyn went into the ER and it was discovered that she had cancer, and it rapidly spread. She went to Billings where the oncologist explained that she did not have much time left. Before leaving Billings, mom was surrounded by her family. Shortly after arriving back in Sidney she passed away on June 24, 2018 at 1:30 a.m. Mom was well loved and is extremely missed by her family and friends. She loved everyone who was in her life and she will be forever missed.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Dick and Jay Deming, and her sister Ruth Vanhook. She is survived by daughters Jessica Jean (Jerry) Nay, and Roxanne (Robert Blackwell) Bakken, brothers Dean, John, Mark, and Clyde Deming, and three grandchildren.