Marlys Vaagen

Funeral services for Marlys Vaagen, 90, of Taylor, will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, June 8, 2018 at Taylor Lutheran Church with Pastor Mark Bosserman officiating. Burial will follow in Taylor Lutheran Cemetery.


Visitation for Marlys will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 8, 2018 at the church.


Marlys passed away Monday, June 4, 2018 at CHI St. Alexius Health, Bismarck.


Marlys Evelyn Pletan was born June 3, 1928 in Dunn Center to Rudolph and Ottilia (Gorder) Pletan. She grew up in Dunn Center, graduating from Dunn Center High School in 1946. After graduation, Marlys attended Dickinson Teachers College. She began teaching at a rural school north of Taylor. While she was teaching, Marlys met the love her life, Merle Vaagen. They were married July 25, 1948 at Normanna Lutheran Church. To this union seven children were born; Carol, Loris, Loretta, Myles, Peggy, Paula, and Garold. Together they made their home in Taylor, where they owned and operated Taylor Lumber Co. During these years, she worked as a teacher’s aide and school nutritionist at Taylor School and also as city auditor.  Marlys later retired but stayed in Taylor.


Marlys enjoyed gardening, sewing, traveling and being involved with the community. She was a member of the VFW Women, Taylor Lutheran Church, Better Living Homemakers Club, Sons of Norway, and was named in
Who’s Who of North Dakota
. She taught Sunday school and attended women’s Bible study. Marlys loved to have people drop in for coffee; the coffee pot was always on. She was warm, generous, fun-loving and had many lifelong friendships.


Marlys is survived by her children, Carol Gjermundson of Indio, CA, Peggy Vaagen of Mandan, ND, and Garold (Patsy) Vaagen of Harwood, ND; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; siblings, Phyllis Nelson of Bismarck, ND, Joyce Peterson of Lombard, IL, Loretta (Tom) Hoversten of Oshkosh, WI, and Donald (Jacqueline) Pletan of Plattsmouth, NE.


Marlys was preceded in death by her parents, Rudolph and Ottilia Pletan; her husband, Merle; her daughters, Loris Marcusen, Loretta Shipp, and Paula Bluemer; her son, Myles; and siblings, Ernest Pletan, Howard Pletan, Gordon Pletan, Duane Pletan, Ralph Pletan, and Owen Pletan.


Vaagen Marlys


Burial Date: June 8, 2018
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND
Church Taylor Lutheran Church

Funeral Services: 2:00 p.m., Friday, June 8, 2018, Taylor Lutheran Church.
Visitation: 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., Friday, June 8, 2018, Taylor Lutheran Church.