Marilyn Desmet Ployhar

Marilyn Noreen Erickson DeSmet Ployhar, age 76, passed away at Goldstone Assisted Living Facility in Great Falls from complications of progressive dementia. The family is grateful for the exceptional care from Goldstone and Hospice of Montana teams who provided kind, compassionate care through Marilyn’s journey. Marilyn was born September 7, 1942 in Choteau to Otto Waldemar “Wally” and Ruby Charlton Erickson. Her childhood was spent on the family farm west of Fairfield. She attended Golden Ridge Elementary and Fairfield High School. “Sis” valued her rural upbringing, where she perfected skills in the domestic arts – cooking, baking, canning, gardening, sewing and quilting – pursuits she enjoyed throughout her life. When not helping her Mom or bossing her brothers, Marilyn could be found riding her horse, Beauty, teaching Sunday school, or with her nose in a book. After high school, Marilyn moved to Great Falls where she worked at Montana Farmer’s Union Mutual Insurance and soon met Joseph Paul “Joe” DeSmet, a young man from Colome, South Dakota who had recently moved to town for work. They married December 3, 1960 and celebrated 36 years together until Joe’s untimely death in 1996. Joe’s work required numerous moves in their early married life, including stops in Idaho, Washington, and Colorado prior to happily settling back in Great Falls, where they lived until 1979 when they moved to the family farm in Fairfield to help care for Wally and Ruby. Marilyn worked for 31 years (1972-2003) at Great Falls Gas Company/Energy West, a career she loved for interesting challenges, responsibilities, new opportunities, and wonderful colleagues. After retiring from EW, Marilyn performed contract work for several businesses, including Montana Federal Credit Union and Russell Country Credit Union. She missed business life, so became a Mary Kay representative in her retirement, which provided opportunities to make connections on a regular basis. Marilyn’s life was enriched with many activities; spending time with family, parish life at St. Luke’s in Great Falls and St. John’s in Fairfield, and numerous volunteer endeavors. Never one for idleness and endowed with a generous spirit and helpful hands, Marilyn was always busy and involved. She participated in parish leadership and committees, PTA, Toast Masters, Rotary, and in later years, worked with YWCA, CASA, housing young baseball players, bible study groups, and many pursuits and events of community support. Marilyn devoted an abundance of time to the children in her life, Diana, David, and Darrell, nieces, nephews, 7 granddaughters, 3 grandsons, and 2 great-grandsons. She treasured each member of her family uniquely and gathered friends and acquaintances into the circle of her love. She was a beloved and dutiful daughter, a trusted and helpful sister, and an incredible wife, mother, aunt, and Grammy. She shared her time selflessly and was as happy helping someone complete a project, as doing anything else. She often said, “Many hands make light work,” a credo she lived by. Marilyn was a life-long learner. She completed many business classes at College of Great Falls. She was an avid reader with a wide variety of interests and one fascinating subject morphing to the next. She started every morning early, spending quiet time before dawn in prayer and devotion.To their chagrin, she would wake up her children singing, “Rise and Shine”. Not popular at the time, her children look back with gratitude at this example showing Marilyn’s work ethic, positive nature, and joy in the moment. They are appreciative of her unwavering love, quirky humor, and generous heart. Those who knew Marilyn know she always had a batch or two of Monster Cookies in the freezer ready to thaw out! She found love again when she met James Raymond Ployhar. They married in 2002; she felt lucky to have found a compatible mate for the second time in her life. Jim and Marilyn kept busy; hiking, treasure hunting, baking, jam-making, and enjoying life outdoors. They took several trips to Alaska, Washington, California, and Arizona. Expanding her family to include Jim’s children and grandchildren brought her great joy. Marilyn leaves an indelible legacy of love. She was preceded by parents Ruby and Wally; brother Russel Erickson; and first husband, Joseph Paul DeSmet. She is survived by husband, James Ployhar; sister Janice Erickson (Russel); brothers Joe W. Erickson (Bonee) and Sid Erickson (Betsy); daughter Diana Geary (Steve); sons David P. DeSmet (Lani) and Darrell J. DeSmet (Melanie); granddaughters Marlayna Geary (Griffen Hoerner), Lindsey DeSmet, Claire DeSmet, Hannah DeSmet, Sienna DeSmet, Mercedes DeSmet, and Hayleigh DeSmet; grandsons Chance DeSmet, Joseph DeSmet, and Myles DeSmet; great-grandsons Berkley DeSmet and Arlo Hoerner. Visitation will be Friday, November 16, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Schnider Funeral Home.Funeral litugy will be November 17, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Ann’s Cathedral, 715 3rd Ave N, Great Falls at 10:00 a.m. The family recommends if desired, donations to ADRD (Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia) Research or a charity of your choice.