Marlene Ardell (Roy) Townsend
October 16, 1950 - January 22, 2020
Funeral services for Marlene Ardell (Roy) Townsend, 69, of rural Willow Lake, SD, was held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, at the Carpenter United Methodist Church of Carpenter, SD, with Pastor Brenda Wicks officiating.
Visitation was held from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, at Furness Funeral Home of Clark, SD, and continued on Saturday morning, Jan. 25, 2020, at the Carpenter United Methodist Church of Carpenter, SD, one hour preceding services.
Burial will be held in the spring at the Richland Cemetery near Carpenter, SD.
Marlene Ardell (Roy) Townsend died peacefully in her home early Wednesday morning, Jan. 22, 2020, after nearly a seven-year hard fought battle due to cancer.
Marlene Ardell (Roy) Townsend was born Oct. 16, 1950, at Platte, SD, to Ralph and Darlene (Dozark) Dingman.
She attended school in Chamberlain, SD, graduating in 1969.
On Oct. 25, 1969, she was united in marriage to Roy Townsend. The couple lived near Willow Lake, SD, for several years. While living at Willow Lake, SD, she thoroughly enjoyed running the Drive Inn, working at the Willow Lake School as janitor and at the Willow Lake Café and helping area farmers pick potatoes.
Marlene was never afraid of working. In fact, until ill health forced her retirement, she enjoyed working as a welder at Bobcat in Gwinner, ND, a talent she learned on the job. She became the go-to person at Bobcat for
many welders who were learning or had questions.
In her free moments, Marlene spent many hours at her embroidery machine working on crafts, spending time with and loving animals, especially horses and working at the South Dakota State Fair, even working at the
2019 event.
Grateful for having shared her life are her husband, Roy Townsend of Willow Lake, SD; her daughters, Trudie McGavock and husband, Steve of Springs, Texas, and Aimee Townsend of Howard, SD; five grandchildren,
a great grandchild and a sister, Wanita Johnson and husband, Bob of Otto, NC.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Darlene Dingman; a son, Scott Townsend and her mother-in-law, Helena Townsend.
Furness Funeral Home of Clark, SD, was in charge of arrangements.
The obituary may be seen at www.furnessfuneralhome.com.