Marlene Houtwed

Marlene Joyce Gates Houtwed was born Oct. 21, 1931, in Milford, Nebraska, to Mildred Arwine. She was adopted by Dale and Ruth Gates in January 1932. She attended school in Fairbury and graduated from high school in 1949. She then attended Fairbury Junior College and graduated in 1951. She was Fairbury queen in high school and prom queen in college.

She liked to sing and did solo and group singing. She also sang with the Wayne Elgert dance band. She was a member of the First Christian Church since she was baptized at 11 years old.

After college, Marlene taught school in Ruskin, Nebraska, where she met Dewane Houtwed. They were married May 31, 1953. He was in the Air Force and served two years in Okinawa, while Marlene taught school in the city of Diller. The schoolhouse burned in January of 1954, so school was held in the basement of a church. Dewayne came back to Ruskin after leaving the Air Force. He and Marlene farmed on the Houtwed home place. Four boys were born to them: Steven Dale, Robert Bruce, David Kent and Kevin Jens. In 1979, Marlene moved back to Fairbury and went to Peru State College, earning a four-year degree in special education. She taught school at Steele City for five years, until the district merged with Diller. Marlene remained a teacher there until she retired in 2000.

In 1982, she found her birth mother, Mildred, after 51 years, in San Jose, California. Marlene spent many summers visiting her mother and her half-brother, Jack Cook, and family.

Marlene is survived by her four boys, four daughters-in-law, and also 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Arlene Hansen and Willa Cleary.

She was preceded in death by Dewane Houtwed; Ruth and Dale Gates; Dwayne and Mildred Cook; Jens and Mabel Houtwed; Gene Hansen;, and Bill Cleary.

A memorial service will be at held at 2 p.m., Friday at the First Christian Church in Fairbury. Memorials will go to the family's choice. Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements. http://www.gerdesmeyerfh.com