Marlene Dorothy Buell

Marlene Dorothy (Itter) Buell passed away peacefully on July 29, 2026.

Marlene was born in Bay City Michigan on December 31, 1931. A New Years Eve gift to her parents, Wilford and Mildred Itter.

She attended Grade School and High School in Bay City Michigan. Then graduated from Bay City Junior College with a Liberal Arts degree in 1951. She continued her education to obtain her Teaching Certificate and Graduated from Winona State College, Minnesota in 1966. She taught third grade and remedial reading for 18 years. Most of those years were at Bonner Elementary in Stewartville Minnesota. She was a teacher through and through and her love of reading passed onto grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A favorite quote from the Principal at Bonner Elementary about Marlene was: "Marlene finished her education and started teaching after her own children were in elementary school. She moved from beginning teacher to a very competent professional in a short period of time."

Marlene married her "sweetie" Richard (Dick) Buell on October 14, 1950. They met at the Bay City Junior College, and their favorite memories of that time were the "sock hops". Dick and Marlene celebrated 60 years of marriage on October 14, 2010. Throughout their retirement years they enjoyed traveling to Europe, Hawaii, and many trips to amazing places in the USA. Dick passed away in 2014.

Malene and Dick have four children; eight grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren. Daughters, Linda McGinnis (Jerry) Lompoc, California. Nancy Schlag (Jim) Keizer, Oregon. Barb Eggiman (Ron) Keizer, Oregon. Son, Bill Buell (Ginny) Stillwater, Minnesota. The Buell family spent lots of fun times together growing up in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Fort Worth, Texas; and Rochester, Minnesota.

Marlene's siblings are Jack Itter who passed away Sept 2022 and Sharon Sutter who lives in Centennial, Colorado.

Marlene's final days were made comfortable by hospice. The family asks that any donations made in honor of her be made to either Willamette Vital Health Hospice Care or John Knox Presbyterian Church where she had served as an Elder and helped organize and maintain the church library.

A private family memorial service will take place on Aug 8 at John Knox.