Marla Oakley

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Obituary

Marlene “Marla” Oakley, 87, of Mitchell, SD, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at Avera Queen of Peace Hospital in Mitchell. Funeral services will be at 1:00 PM on Saturday, February 17, at Bittner Funeral Chapel with visitation one hour prior to the funeral service. Burial will be at Mt. Vernon Cemetery in Mt. Vernon, SD.

Marla was born on August 21, 1936, as the only child of Herbert and Genevieve in Minneapolis, MN. She grew up in Minneapolis and flourished in literature, theatre arts and academia. She was always an overachiever; in school she was involved with the Theater Department, Student Council, Prom Committee, Editor of the school newspaper, the yearbook staff, directed the Senior Class Play and member of the National Honor Society.

Upon graduation, Marla began modeling for the Minneapolis area department stores such as Dayton's, Donaldson's and Powers while attending the University of Minnesota. She received her Bachelor's Degree in 1958.

In February 1962, she attended a dinner party at Bursch's in Hopkins, where she met the man that she would spend the rest of her life loving, her husband Fred. They married that same year. Within two years, they had two daughters and a home in the suburb of Golden Valley.

Marla enjoyed keeping her children involved in anything that would keep them engaged; including music, sports, cheerleading and Camp Fire Girls. She also worked as a substitute teacher for the area school districts, got her realtor's license, served as a Public Relations Director for The Camp Fire Girls and was a writer for the Star Tribune reporting for the community papers of the western suburbs.

As a family, camping, fishing, visiting national parks, ballet and music recitals and school events were all things Marla loved to do. And being very creative, she handmade many of the clothes for her children, as well as threw lavish parties for everyone's birthdays, anniversaries and holidays. 

When Fred retired in the early 1990's, they spent their retired years flying their plane, riding their boat and vacationing at tropical islands.

Marla loved art and music and filled the home with paintings and sculptures and listened to classical music. She also enjoyed attending the theater and tending to her enormous gardens. She was also an active member of the Catholic church.

Grateful for sharing in her life are her two daughters, Lezlee and Julie and her son-in-law, Tom.

She is predeceased by her parents and her husband.

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