Marlene Lou Duffy

1933 - 2024

Marlene Lou Duffy
April 2, 1933 - December 26, 2024
Mass of Christian Burial for Marlene Lou Duffy age 91, will be 11 a.m. Friday, January 3, 2025, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Brookings, SD. Visitation will be prior to the funeral at 9 to 11 a.m. Inurnment will be at 3 p.m. at St. Catherines Catholic Cemetery in Oldham. Marlene Lou Duffy passed away, Thursday, December 26, 2024 at The Neighborhoods at Brookview in Brookings, SD. Arrangements have been entrusted to Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel of Arlington, Oldham, Lake Preston.
Marlene Lou Duffy was born on April 2, 1933, to Michael and Lulu (Peterson) Dahlen of rural Oldham, SD. As a young girl, Marlene attended Hill School and graduated from Oldham High School in 1951. Marlene worked at Bullington Grocery Store, McMartin Grocery Store, and Oldham State Bank before becoming a full-time mother and farm wife. On October 18, 1952, Marlene married Bernard Edward Duffy at St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Oldham. The couple lived on their family farm in Oldham and were blessed with four children.
In 1994, Marlene and Bernard retired from full-time farming and moved to Lake Preston, where they lived until 2020 when they relocated to Brookings. Throughout her life, Marlene served her community in many capacities including as a Board Member for the Good Samaritan Society, a CCD Teacher, as well as a volunteer for the Extension Club, Volunteer Service Bank, and 4-H.
Marlene was an active member of St. Catherine Catholic Church in Oldham, SD, and St. Thomas Catholic Church in DeSmet, SD, where she enjoyed participating in Bible study groups. In Brookings, Marlene and Bernard joined St. Thomas More Catholic Church.
Marlene loved to crochet, gifting each grandchild with a beautiful handmade afghan. Marlene liked to bowl and to garden - her beautiful garden was a point of pride every year. Marlene had a beautiful voice and loved to sing, especially in church. Marlene became blind in May 2022 and at that time listening to music became even more comforting for her.
Marlene will be deeply missed by her three sons, Michael (Cheryl) Duffy, Madison, Gregory (Nila) Duffy, Oldham, David (Karen) Duffy, Oldham; and one daughter Janelle Nielsen, Madison; seven grandchildren, Ryan (Elizabeth) Duffy, Sioux Falls, Tom (Erin) Nielsen, Madison, Travis Duffy, Brandon, Jenna Nielsen, Minneapolis, John (Kim) Duffy, Brandon, Nicole (Trevor) Keating, Arlington, and Staci (Andrew) Carlson, Brookings; 13 great-grandchildren; one brother, Michael (Janet) Dahlen, Iowa City; and one sister-in-law, Sarah Wetrich; along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Bernard Duffy; a grandson, Allan Duffy; son-in-law, Jim Nielsen; parents, Michael and Lulu Dahlen; sister, Beverly Page and her husband, Wayne; sister, DeLayne Bickett and her husband, Larry; and in-laws Thomas and Monica Duffy, Mary and Vane Miller, Jim and Joan Duffy, and Donald Wetrich.