Marilyn Zirker Rodenbeek Messer

1934-2014

Marilyn Zirker Rodenbeek Messer passed away peacefully on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014 after a brief battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Born May 18, 1934 in Roosevelt, Utah to Julius and Fern Wall Zirker, she was the second of four sisters. She grew up on the family farm in Arcadia, Utah and following her graduation in 1952 from Union High School in Roosevelt, moved with her family to a farm in Moses Lake. Marilyn earned an Elementary Education degree from Brigham Young University in 1956 and taught kindergarten for one year prior to her marriage in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on Aug. 20, 1957 to Darrell Rodenbeek, an Air Force fighter pilot stationed at Larson AFB. Darrell died in a plane crash on June 5, 1958 and their daughter, Darel Lyn, was born two months later on July 24th. She and Darel Lyn remained in Moses Lake where she taught first grade for the next five years.

On June 1, 1963 she married Don Messer, who worked for the Soil Conservation Service, in Moses Lake. She became a homemaker and their son, Brett, was born one year later. In 1966 the family moved to Bozeman, Mont., where Don attended graduate school, and where their daughter, Keri, was born. They later lived in Malta and Laurel, Mont. In 1974 they moved to Alamosa, Colo., where Don worked for the BLM. They moved to Cody, Wyo., in 1978 and later she was a substitute teacher, worked for Nancy's Video, and the BBHC education department.

Throughout her life Marilyn was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, she loved the Lord, and devoted her life to serving others. She loved being a grandmother to her 17 grandchildren and six great-grandsons. Her varied interests included drawing and painting, camping with her family, riding horses in the mountains, and spending time with her extended family. Marilyn is survived by her husband, Don of Cody; daughter Darel Lyn Stolworthy (Jess) of Spokane; son Brett Messer (Patsy) of Centerville, Utah; daughter Keri Millward (Cody) of Derby, Kan.; sisters Shirley Bjornstead, Ardis Whitaker, Carolee Snyder, and Pamela Zirker, and brother Edward Zirker.

Funeral services will be on Saturday, Dec. 6th at 10 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake Center at 1407 Heart Mountain St. in Cody; the burial will be in Riverside Cemetery immediately after. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or to the Park County Animal Shelter.