MARILYN LEITNER DICKERHOOF

1943 - 2009

Marilyn Leitner Dickerhoof went home to her Lord on August 22, 2009 after a year and a half battle with cancer. As her dearly beloved soul took winged flight home she wanted it to be said, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth"- 3 John 1:4.

Marilyn was born on June 8, 1943 in Seattle, Washington, the daughter of George and Mary Leitner. She moved to and was raised in Mount Vernon, later graduating from Mount Vernon High School in 1961. She took some courses at Skagit Valley College, then moved to Seattle and worked for Boeing for about one year. After moving back to Mount Vernon and working at Seafirst Bank, she met Daryl Dickerhoof on a blind date and they married in 1965 while he was working as an engineer for Shell in Anacortes, WA. During the next two years after their marriage, Daryl was in the Army and they were stationed throughout the US and Germany. Afterward, they moved to Martinez, CA for two years and then Daryl was transferred with Shell to Louisiana where they lived for 32 years. They returned to Mount Vernon after Daryl's retirement in 2001 to be near family.

Marilyn was a faithful servant of God, ministering to family and friends wherever she felt needed. In Kenner, Louisiana she attended Faithful Word Assembly Church for about 20 years and then Christ the King Community Church in Mount Vernon, WA. She was a devoted homemaker over the years and dedicated herself to homeschooling most of her children to instill Godly truth and principles. She was especially good at mentoring many individuals throughout her life.

She loved Skagit Valley and enjoyed learning about its history. She had a zest for life and loved gardening, collecting antiques, interior design, garage sales, family genealogy, shopping and searching for bargains. She cultivated many different groups of friends and they were a great source of pleasure for her. She had a love of art and became interested in painting water colors with her "Painted Ladies" friends. She also joined "Curves" and one of her many joys was meeting with her "Curves Chicks", enjoying the exercise and the camaraderie. She loved the Lord and her Bible study group, as well as her "Small Group" friends from church. This cross section of friends became like ministering angels to her, especially through her difficult cancer treatments.

She is survived by her husband Daryl, and their five children: Eric, his wife Julie and their five daughters Rebecca, Mercy, Moriah, Rachel, and Lily; Scott, his wife Michelle and their two children Nathan and Gracie; Andrew and wife Kate; Krista and husband Paul Hernandez, and Joshua Dickerhoof and fiancée Sara Mistretta. She leaves a sister, Donna Larson and husband Glenn, and brother Ronald Leitner and wife Skip, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Mary Leitner and a sister, JoyceAnn Leitner.

A private family burial will be held Saturday, August 29, 2009 at Hawthorne Memorial Park at 11 AM with a memorial celebration service to follow at 1 PM at Christ the King Church in Mount Vernon, 2111 Riverside Drive. Viewing of her body will be restricted to close family members.

In lieu of flowers, Marilyn would prefer a donation in her memory to organizations close to her heart - The Voice of the Martyrs, PO Box 443, Bartlesville, OK, 74005-0443 or the Mt. St. Helens Creation Information Center, 4749 Spirit Lake Hwy, Silverlake, WA 98645.

For the loving care she received during her bout with cancer she would want to especially thank the staffs of Skagit Valley Hospital, Skagit Valley Regional Cancer Care Center, Virginia Mason Hospital, Life Care Center in Mount Vernon and Doctors Jafari, Kantorowitz and Stark. Also she would want to especially recognize all those wonderful friends and family that ministered love to her during this time and for their countless prayers on her behalf. Throughout her trials with cancer, the Lord held her in His loving arms and at 7 AM Saturday, her spirit was mercifully released into His Kingdom. Her family will miss her dearly.

You may share your memories of Marilyn, and sign her online guest register at www.kernfuneralhome.com Arrangements are under the care of Kern Funeral Home.