Michael Rick Marriage

PLENTYWOOD - Funeral services for Michael Rick Marriage will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20. Pastor David C. Curtright will officiate at the service at The Barn in Flaxville; interment will be in Whitetail Cemetery. Mike passed away Thursday afternoon, Jan. 14, 2010.

Mike was born at Plentywood, Dec. 2, 1973, the son of Rick and Debbie (Zeidler) Marriage. Growing up on the family farm in the Whitetail community, Mike played sports, especially basketball (he was a Michael Jordan fan!),  baseball and hunting. His toys grew as he did, whether four-wheelers, snowmobiles or farm machinery, they just got bigger and more expensive as he grew up! He graduated from Flaxville High School and briefly attended college in Glendive, but as soon as possible headed home to Whitetail to farm with his father. Since they were teammates in Little League, Sherri Kurtz was among his "best friends," and then high school sweethearts, and then they were married June 12, 1999, in Flaxville. They lived on the family farm in Whitetail until moving to Plentywood in February 2005.

Mike's interests were  farming, snowmobiling, pool, and darts and especially his family - he was deeply protective of Sherri and their kids, Megan and Tate. Always happiest staying near home in Daniels and Sheridan counties, Mike was outgoing and sociable … to know him was to like him, and his close circle of friends and family remember him as "always easy to get in trouble with," but his infectious grin and rolling laugh always seemed to make it worthwhile and everyone always seemed to make the most of it. Frugal to his core, Mike was a meticulous perfectionist about his farming, studying, thinking, planning and wearing out calculators to find the best way to care for his lands and crops. Mike read constantly, and was known as very knowledgeable about farming, and especially farm chemicals.

Michael's survivors include his wife, Sherri and two children, Megan and Tate of Plentywood; as well as by his parents, Rick and Debbie Marriage of Whitetail; and his father- and mother-in-law, Greg and Doris Kurtz of Flaxville. He is also survived by a sister, Michelle Marriage of San Diego and her son, James Roberts, of Minot, N.D.; and a brother, Chad Marriage and his wife Jennie of Missoula. He is also survived by sister-in-law, Kimberly Keysor and her husband Ben and their son, Collin, of Billings; and brother-in-law Robert Kurtz and his wife Brandy of Havre. He is also survived by his grandmothers, Dorothy Marriage and Katie Zeidler; and by Sherri's grandparents, Bob Kurtz and Alma Jensen, all of Plentywood. Besides his grandfathers, Les Marriage and Barr Zeidler, family members preceding him in death include Sherri's sister, Nichelle Kurtz, in 1993.

Fulkerson Funeral Home of Plentywood has charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, Michael's family suggests contributions to a trust fund being established for his children.

Michael Rick Marriage