Marilyn Marie Ludwig Reinke, 76

Marilyn Marie Ludwig Reinke “was called home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011, at Elim Nursing Home in Fargo, N.D.

Marilyn Marie Knocke was born to Edward and Hilda (Kruckenberg) Knocke on March 2, 1934, at Pawnee Rock, Kan.

 After completing high school in Great Bend, Kan., she attended and graduated from St. John's College in Winfield, Kan.

On June 18, 1955, she was united in marriage to William E. Ludwig at Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend. This union was blessed with three sons and a daughter.

Marilyn taught at Trinity Lutheran School in Pueblo, Colo., Redeemer Lutheran School, Denver, and 34 years as kindergarten teacher at Trinity Lutheran School in Kalispell. She also led the music program at the school. She served many years as church organist and after retirement in 1999, she returned and served for eight years as a first grade teacher's aide.

She found much joy working with children of all ages and she and her husband Bill managed Trinity's Lutheran Campground on Flathead Lake every summer for 45 years. They also served many years as tour hosts to Israel, Greece, Egypt, Germany and Alaska.

Bill passed away after an extended illness in early 2009. On Aug. 29, 2009, “with God's Divine intervention,” she was united in marriage to Gary C. Reinke at Trinity Lutheran Church in Kalispell. They made their home in Fargo and were members of Immanuel Lutheran Church. Through her marriage to Gary, she was blessed with an extended family, a stepdaughter, Dr. Karen Garnaas and husband, Don, and five children, Kate, Noah, Will, Eden and Isaiah; a stepson, Dr. Mark Reinke and wife, Kathy, and five children, Rhiannon, Robin, Rebecca, Rochelle and Ryan; she also had a deceased stepson, Troy Reinke, and wife Susan, and daughters, Jessica, Anne and Elizabeth.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and one sister, Leola Miller, of Colorado Springs, Colo.

She is survived by her husband, Gary C. Reinke, of Fargo; children, Douglas Ludwig of Vienna, Austria, Scott and Carol Ludwig of Marysville, Wash., Brent Ludwig of Kalispell, and Brenda and Gregory Bradford of Colorado Springs; four grandchildren, Nathaniel and Hannah Ludwig, and Shayla and Laynie Bradford; five brothers, Norman and Shirley Knocke of McPherson, Kan., Walter and Betty Knocke of Bella Vista, Ark., Erwin and Fern Knocke of Arkansas City, Kan., Maurice and Liz Knocke of Champaign, Ill., and Ron and Patricia Knocke of Hot Springs Village, Ark.

Together, Gary and Marilyn shared 17 grandchildren. Her faith in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ was evident to all, and her ready smile and pleasant demeanor made those around her feel comfortable and loved.

“To God be the glory!”

Memorial services for Marilyn will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, March 7, at Trinity Lutheran Church with the Rev. Mark Cutler officiating. Burial will be private by the family.

Memorials may be made to the Bill Ludwig Scholarship Fund at Trinity Lutheran School, Trinity Lutheran Camp or Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St. Kalispell, MT 59901.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Marilyn’s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and view Marilyn’s tribute wall.