Marilyn Blesi

Marilyn Ann Blesi, 83, of Cheyenne passed away on January 26th 2018 at Davis Hospice Center in Cheyenne, WY.
Marilyn was born on April 21st 1934 in Carroll County, Iowa, to Iva and Ray Goodwin. She grew up working hard on the family farm with her brother, Neil Goodwin. The family moved to Minnesota. After graduating from Mountain Lake High School in 1952, she enrolled in secretarial school and joined a girl’s club in Minneapolis where she enjoyed riding horses and playing softball. She spent time traveling with her parents and helping at their Sunset Resort at Lake Osakis, where she met William Peter Blesi. They were married on June 9th 1957 in Windom, MN. Bill was attending university in Brookings, SD; she began work as a secretary there. Upon graduation, he joined the Federal Highway Department and attended Graduate School at MSU. After many moves, they ended up in Cheyenne, WY in 1973 where he was an Assistant Division Head. They didn’t plan on staying in Cheyenne, but it became Marilyn’s long-time home because of Bill’s health. She worked for the State Legislature and the Department of Health. She volunteered many hours to the community and the First United Methodist Church in groups like Methodist Women, XJWC, and Order of the Eastern Star, and Laramie County Master Gardeners.
She would start her day with hair rollers, oatmeal, coffee, and the newspaper. Every evening she would put fresh lipstick on to kiss Bill at the door when he got home. She loved working in the garden, picking raspberries, watching birds, and feeding hummingbirds. She was talented at sewing and painting. She collected antiques with Bill. She was a fiery competitor in cards, rummikub, polish poker, and bridge. She loved sardines with vinegar and made the best fried chicken. She was an inventive and notorious hider of sweets. She loved popcorn, but not as much as she loved feeding popcorn to the family dogs. She loved holidays, decorations (especially Santas), and throwing parties for neighbors, friends, and family. She was an impressive fisherwoman and an avid outdoorswoman, camper, and snowmobiler. All of which she shared with and taught to her children and grandchildren. She traveled and shared many vacations and infinite memories with her family.

Marilyn had a long, fierce struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease. It was a tough 8 years for her, but she was so loved; her daughter, Pamela, was honored to have been part of her journey. She fought every battle of the disease with grace; she stayed kind and loving through it all. She was truly graceful and shared God’s love with all of her caretakers. She was blessed by her time at Aspen Wind, where the staff treated her with kindness and dignity.
She was a devoted Christian, wife, mother, and grandmother; a beautiful person. There is no doubt that she is in heaven smiling down on those of us who survive her, with her husband William Blesi, their parents and siblings, and the family animals. She is survived by her children, Pamela [Randall] Butt, Susan [James] Williams, and Jonathan (Denise) Blesi; and grandchildren Kristin Butt, Brandon Blesi, Nathan Williams, Christopher Williams, Spencer Williams, Abbigail Blesi, and Bethany Blesi.
A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Saturday March 31, 2018 at the First United Methodist Church. A Light luncheon will follow in Allison Hall.
Donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens in her name