Marlyn “Marlie” Fisher, 87, Fargo, North Dakota formerly of Kathryn, North Dakota passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 17, 2024, at Sanford Health Center on North Broadway in Fargo.

Marlyn Stevens was born March 4, 1937, in Kathryn, the daughter of Martin and Flora (Hellickson) Stevens.  She attended school in the Kathryn area and graduated from Kathryn High School in 1955.  She moved to Fargo where she worked as a nurse’s aide at St. John’s Hospital.  Soon thereafter, she went on to work as an operator for the phone company.  Marlie met Delton Hesse and married on April 12, 1959, and made their home in Valley City, North Dakota where she continued working as an operator.  Delton was a teacher, so they moved to various towns.  They moved to Mclaughlin, South Dakota and in 1960 they made their home in Arthur, North Dakota and in 1964 moved to Lake Park, Minnesota and from 1967-68 she worked as a nurse’s aide.  In 1968 they moved to Estacada, Oregon and in 1972 she resumed her career as a telephone operator.

Marlie married Paul Fisher in 1975, and they lived in the Seattle, Washington area for a short time but later that year moved to Jamestown, North Dakota where she continued working as an operator.  In 1982, they moved to Fargo where Marlie had been transferred and Paul returned to trucking. Marlie retired from the phone company in 1996, and Paul retired from trucking in 2000.  They then made their retirement home in Kathryn.  In Kathryn, they were a team with Paul working on various city projects and Marlie assisting with administrative duties.  This team kept busy but made sure to find time to visit family and friends–something they both loved doing.  Paul passed away March 22, 2021.  Marlie then moved to Valley City and in 2023 moved back to Fargo to live near her daughter, Stephanie.

She was active in her church, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Kathryn.  Marlie loved to do crossword puzzles and many other word games.  She liked to bake items for her family as well as baking for many community functions.

Marlie is survived by her son, Mark Hesse, St. Cloud, Minnesota; her daughters Stephanie Hesse, Fargo; Cory Fisher, Sparks Nevada; Heidi Fisher, Williamsburg, Virginia; granddaughter Courtney (Adrian) Davis and two great grandchildren.  Two sisters-in-law also survive, Barbara Boblett and Rose Fisher.

She was preceded in death by her husband Paul and a daughter Shaundel Hesse.

The funeral service for Marlie will be 10:30 am Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Kathryn.  Burial will be in St. Paul’s Cemetery. 

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel, Valley City.  An online guestbook is available at www.olivernathanchapel.com