Marla Rae Pluhar

Marla Rae was born September 18, 1963 with a sparkle in her crystal blue eyes and a pep in her step that she blessed us with for the rest of her 62 years. Marla passed away December 6, 2025 fighting a battle no one should be faced with.

Marla was born to Vaughn Stewart (Bud) Goplen and Bette Lue Schott. She joined Mark, Melody, Mitch and Miles. Marla completed their family. As the youngest, there was no shortage of antics or guidance from her siblings. She and her friends logged many pedal powered miles on the streets of Terry, had sleep overs and looked forward to 4-H camps and pool days. She cooked and served at Bud and Bette's, the family bar and cafe, throughout her school days. She learned many tricks of the trade, developing a love for the kitchen that shaped her future.

Shortly after Marla began her senior year she met Alan Pluhar and they quickly became inseparable. Following graduation from Terry High School in 1982 Marla attended flight attendant school in Denver, upon return the two were married on April 28, 1984 in a snow storm. They made their home and lived in Crane, MT and St. Xavier, MT in the years directly following their marriage. In 1985 they returned to the family ranch in Cohagen. Marla quickly adapted to the ranch wife life and enjoyed being a steward of the land but always kept her apron hanging on the closest hook. Through the years she cooked at the Hilltop Cafe and remained on call at Bud and Bette's. In 2004 she went to work for Jordan Public Schools in the Title-1 room and later accepted the role of head cook in 2009. No one makes a cinnamon roll quite like Marla.

In 1986 Alan and Marla welcomed son, Kalan Jon Vaughn and life as they knew it had changed. It was trucks and tractors and dirt tracks through the shelter belt. In 1988 Kalley Lue made them a family of four and suddenly they were playing dolls and the farm yard on the living room floor had more horses. Marla always had time for her kids and their friends. She was the mom with all of the advice and the mom who knew without being told. Her kids rarely thought, "mom's going to tan my hide" instead they thought, "I can't wait to tell mom."

In 2015 Marla became a grandma for the first time and her world came alive. Gunner, her first born and only grandson revealed Marla's true calling. She taught him her gentle kindness and her smirk will live on through him. Granddaughters Laramie and Whitlee brought out the little girl in Marla and she was often found playing kitchen or planting her many pots of flowers with them but above all she loved cooking with them and teaching them her ways. Laramie RaeLea is not only named after her but has her crystal blue eyes and love for cooking. Whitlee is straightforward just as Marla was, shares her sense of humor and her deep love for animals, especially dogs.

She was greeted at the gates by her folks Bud and Bette Goplen, brother Miles, sister-in-law Pam Goplen, brother-in-law Joe Wheatcroft and her in-laws John and Lynn Pluhar.
Those left reeling her loss are her husband of 42 years, Alan, her son Kalan and his wife Breiann and their children Gunner, Laramie, and Whitlee and her daughter Kalley Pluhar, Also left to honor her memories are brother Mark Goplen, sister Melody and her husband Dick Dewald along with their family, brother Mitch Goplen and wife Mary and their family. Sister-in-law and brother-in-law Lori and John Wentzell and family.