Marlene LaVonne Twedt

Jan. 26, 1938-March 31, 2007

Marlene LaVonne Twedt, 69, of Ames, died Saturday, March 31, at Israel Family Hospice House, following a long illness. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 4, at Ascension Lutheran Church in Ames. Burial will be in McCallsburg Cemetery.

Marlene LaVonne Twedt was born Jan. 26, 1938, in Des Moines, to Owen Duane and Alberta Marie (Knutson) Fincham. She was raised on a farm south of McCallsburg and attended McCallsburg consolidated schools. Following graduation from McCallsburg High School, she attended the Minneapolis Institute of Technology. She worked as a laboratory technician in the Nevada Hospital before becoming a devoted wife and mother.

She married Jim Twedt Feb. 15, 1959, at Bergen Lutheran Church in Roland. They recently celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary. Together they raised four children. She was a perpetual mom and grandmom, committing herself to her husband, children and grandchildren. She was a No. 1 fan of sprint car racing and enjoyed Canadian fishing, sewing, crocheting and gardening.

She is survived by her husband, Jim Twedt, of Ames; one son, Mike (Tammy) Twedt, of Huxley; daughters, three Kathy (Tom) Martin, of Ames, Cindy (Dave) Satre, of St. Paul, Minn., and Tricia Twedt, of Ames; 11 grandchildren, Nic Satre (fiancée, Natasha Kaslow), Tina (Miles) Smith, Ryan Twedt, Allie Nickerson, Eleece Martin, Chelsey Twedt, Jay Nickerson, Austin Moody, Joe Nickerson, Mitch Moody and Marlene "Mara" Nickerson; two sisters, Marilyn (Dean) Hill, of McCallsburg, and Sandy (Mike) Harris, of Granger; and stepmother, Adeline Finchman.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 tonight at Stevens Memorial Chapel in Ames.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Israel Family Hospice House in Ames.