Cover photo for Marlys Siems's Obituary
Marlys Siems Profile Photo
1937 Marlys 2020

Marlys Siems

June 20, 1937 — February 16, 2020

Battle Lake

A joint celebration of Marlys and Donn’s lives will be held Saturday, June 26th, 9am at the Unitarian Church in Underwood MN and an open house held later the same day at their home on Otter Tail Lake from 1pm - 4pm. 38623 Wagon Trail Loop, Battle Lake MN

Marlys Siems, 82 of Otter Tail Lake, rural Battle Lake died Sunday, February 16, 2020, at the Battle Lake Good Samaritan Center under the care of Red River Hospice.

Marlys Irene Siems was born on June 20, 1937, in Dell Rapids, South Dakota the daughter of Ove and Ruth (Heeren) Anderson. She was baptized and confirmed in Bethania Lutheran Church in Jasper, Minnesota. She attended Fergus Falls High School, where she met her husband-to-be, Donn Siems. She graduated in 1955. Marlys and Donn were married at the Aurdal Lutheran Church of rural Fergus Falls in 1956.

Marlys lived along the shores of her beloved Ottertail Lake for over 60 years in the home she and Donn built prior to their marriage. Throughout the years, she swam with her children and grandchildren, boated, skied and sailed with friends, and never missed a summer evening sunset pontoon cruise. She was hostess to hundreds of guests and family who regularly visited their lakeside home. The fragrance of her signature dish: homemade caramel rolls, could be ’sniffed’ hours before anyone arose, and moments before the sunrise.

Marlys and Donn loved to travel. She read voraciously, studying the history and folklore of the 50 U.S. states and numerous countries they visited. And she loved home and the outdoors. Starting in the Spring when they heard the geese returning north, she and Donn moved into their camper to spend each night ‘under the stars,’ moving back into their home when the leaves began to fall in Autumn.

Marlys loved her grandchildren, celebrating their stories, sports, and songs for as many hours they asked of her. Her love for them was patient, steadfast, and soft as an easy chair. ‘Everything’ was important: from sports events, to recitals and graduations. She wrote many chapters in their lives - taking them camping in state and national parks, bicycling and skiing with them in her beloved Glendelough State Park, chaperoning them to Disneyworld, and playing the board game Mahjong deep into the night.

And there were dog walks, dog talks, and dog swims! Marlys was seldom seen without the companionship of her beloved yellow Labradors.

Her wit was sharp! Husband Donn didn’t need to have an opinion: Marlys had enough for both of them.

Marlys is survived by her husband, Donn W. Siems; son, Dirk A. (Karin) Siems of Battle Lake; daughter-in-law, Lenore Siems of Bemidji; five grandchildren and families, Keshia (Trevor) Solem, Easton and Jameson of Glenwood, Brendon (Kirsta) Siems of Yucca, AZ, Brody (Shannon) Siems and Maya of Brookings, SD, James Siems of Bemidji, and Brittany (Nate) Trosvik and Carson McNeal of Pelican Rapids; brother-in-law, David (Nadine) Siems of Fergus Falls; and by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Marlys was preceded in death by her son, Dann Siems; parents, Ove and Ruth (Heeren) Anderson, and her father and mother-in-law, William and Frances (Ladwig) Siems.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Marlys Irene (Anderson) Siems, please visit our Tree Store.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Marlys Siems, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Celebration of Life

Saturday, June 26, 2021

Starts at 9:00 am (Central time)

UnitaUnitarian Church of Underwoodrian Church of Underwood

206 Main St N, Underwood, MN 56586

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Gathering of Family and Friends

Saturday, June 26, 2021

1:00 - 4:00 pm (Central time)

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Guestbook

Visits: 19

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Send Flowers

Send Flowers

Plant A Tree

Plant A Tree