Marjorie Juanita Bethke

1943 - 2023

MARJORIE JUANITA BETHKE

August 8, 1943 May 14, 2023

Marjorie Juanita Bethke of Bakersfield passed on Sunday, May 14, 2023, at Mercy Downtown Hospital in Bakersfield, California. She was stricken with severe respiratory distress early Saturday morning and was transported to the Mercy Downtown Emergency Room where her condition rapidly worsened leading to her untimely passing.

Marjorie was born on August 8, 1943 in Pierre, South Dakota. She was raised by her mother Clara Irene Shepard and her stepfather Harry J. Carroll, who was a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, and often moved from assignment to assignment. Therefore, Marjorie moved frequently as a child growing up in several regions of the country.

As an adult, she worked many years in both bookkeeping and the food and beverage industry, which is where she met her late husband Raymond A. Bethke, Chief Warrant Officer Third Class in the USMC. After his passing, Marjorie moved to Bakersfield to be closer to several of her daughters and the majority of her grandchildren. It is there that she met her long-time partner and loving companion of 10 years, Eric Ziegler.

Marjorie was a voracious reader, a fabulous seamstress, and artist. Additionally she greatly enjoyed games, especially cards and as such, she was the current coordinator and a player of the Kern City Pinochle group. She loved travel but was more limited to do so in recent years.

Marjorie is survived by her domestic partner, Eric; by her daughters Mishael Grabner of Roosevelt, Washington; Catherine Walker of Pensacola, FL; Carolyn Barclay of Gibsonia, PA; Jacqulyn Guerriero and Larra Collins of Bakersfield, CA; and her son Larry Guerriero of Jasper, FL; fourteen grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her grandson Justis Walker of Pensacola, FL.

She is also survived by her sister Janice Flothe of Anchorage, AK; and her brothers Roger Carroll of Norfolk, VA; Thomas Carroll of Richmond, VA; Henry Carroll of Virginia Beach, VA; and was preceded in death by her brother Harry J. Carroll, Jr. of Lubbock, TX; and her sister Kathleen Knight of Virginia Beach, VA.

Marjorie was well-loved by her family and numerous friends. She was lively and sharp-witted but most importantly a kind and good woman. Her Catholic faith was a guiding force in her adult years. Her compassion for others and animals shaped those who were closest to her. She treated others with love, respect, and generosity often giving to those who were in need.

The family will hold a celebration of life ceremony on Thursday, June 22, 2023, at 2 p.m. in the chapel at Greenlawn Funeral Home, 3700 River Blvd, Bakersfield. She will be interred at Barrancas National Cemetery at Pensacola, FL at a later date.

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