Marlene Bietz

1933 - 2024

We are saddened to announce the passing of our loving mother, aunt and sister-in-law, Marlene Jane (Treude) Bietz on October 31, 2024 in Wittman, Arizona. Marlene was born July 30, 1933 to the late Ruth (Helmenstein) and Karl Treude on their Blue Grass, ND farm.
She was the beloved older sister of Carlene (Treude) McMahon Pfeiffer (d. 1988) and Garth Treude (d. 2023). In North Dakota, Marlene and her siblings attended a one-room schoolhouse with a pot belly furnace and rode a pony cart to school. She was 14 years old when the family moved to bustling Lodi, where she graduated Lodi High School at age 16. While attending Stockton College for her Associate of Arts Degree, she worked for local businesses and as secretary to the college athletic director. Upon his return from service in the Korean War, she married her former neighbor Robert (Bob) Bietz in 1955 with whom she shared 62 years of marriage until his passing in 2017. They had two children, Dana Bietz, residing in Ocean Shores, WA and Curtis Bietz, residing in Wittman, AZ.
Marlene had a lengthy career in home furnishings and interior design, working many years at Newfield's in Lodi and later as an independent designer for residential and commercial clients and model homes. Her work required frequent visits to the San Francisco Design Center, where she made many friends and enjoyed the occasional Irish coffee at the Buena Vista. She was an accomplished golfer, avid skier and adventurous traveler visiting China, Hong Kong, Singapore and France. Upon Bob's passing, Marlene split her time between Washington and Arizona, enjoying bocce ball and bowling with Dana and traveling to shooting and fishing tournaments with Curtis.
She was a treasured friend and sister-in-law to Darleen Treude for 40 years and a loving aunt to Michael McMahon (Val), Janeen George (Randy), Kyle Treude (Dawn) and Darron Treude (Teri) and their families. She will also be missed by close friends in Lodi, including Nancy Hansen, life-long ND friends, Bev Wheeler (WA) and Doris Gilligan (MT) and the Bietz families.
Right up to her sudden passing, Marlene maintained her vitality, health, humor and grit that we will all miss but will remember forever. Private services were held.