Marion E. Goehring

Marion Edna Goehring

 Marion (98) was a reserved, loving, and tenacious woman who cherished family more than anything. Born on her parent’s farm in Raymond, Minnesota October 18, 1926, Marion was the oldest of six children. Her parents were hard-working and the children were expected to help on the farm, as well. They raised milking cows, horses, chickens, pigs, and a few sheep. Her late brother (Darrel) often helped her father (Edward Strootman) raise the animals while Marion and her sisters (Phyllis, Carol, June, and Violet) helped their mother (Goldie) with household tasks like cleaning, cooking, and laundry.

 Some of her favorite memories on the farm as a young girl included riding horses, climbing trees, and playing in the hayloft in the barn. She would sometimes climb up to the cupola, to the very top of the barn, and catch pigeons. She would keep them in a cage for a few days and then let them go. Her social life growing up consisted of spending time with her immediate and extended family (including playing cards and doing puzzles at a neighboring family farm). Her aunts, uncles, and cousins lived close. A special day would be packing up gear and going to swim in Green Lake in Spicer, Minnesota. 

 Marion attended a one-room schoolhouse about a mile from the farm. There were sometimes no more than 3-4 students in her grade at one time. In 1944, after she graduated from Raymond High School, Marion moved to Minneapolis and worked at a Woolworth store for 5-6 years. Then she moved to Wilmer, Minnesota and continued working at the local Woolworth Department Store.

 Marion married Robert (Bob) Goehring in 1949. They moved to Fort Collins, Colorado in 1950. The greatest gift to come out of their marriage was the birth of their three beautiful children: Robert (Bob) Junior (wife Brenda), of Estes Park, Colorado; Roxanne, of Berthoud, Colorado; and Rachelle (husband James), of Storm Mountain, Colorado. When the children were young, Marion and Bob moved to Estes Park, where she lived for 60 years.

 Marion was an industrious, hard worker, a trait she considered her strength. She cleaned cabins, made wreathes, did ironing for others, and worked as a receptionist for Doctors Sam Luce and Julia Martin for 13 years. She talked with a smile of the children that would come into the office from the area camps during the summer’s months. She enjoyed working in a small gift shop (Seybold’s) on Main Street in Estes Park for the next 29 years until the owner sold.

 After Bob passed away in 1979, Marion had the opportunity to do some great traveling with family. She went to Disneyland and Disney World more than once. She loved watching the happy, excited faces of her children and grandchildren. She said one of her favorite trips was to see the Alamo in Texas, but trips to Alaska (one for her grandson Luke’s wedding with three sisters and niece, Susan, from Minnesota) were amazing. 

 In 2009, Marion moved to Berthoud to live with Roxanne. She enjoyed the solitude of this small community. She did some amazing crocheting over the years, and she made Afghans for each of her children, grandchildren, some great grandkids, and friends before she couldn’t see well enough anymore. She entered two blankets in the Boulder County Fair and was crowned Grand Champion winning first and third places circa 2014. Marion loved to read novels, especially murder mysteries and lawyer books. She enjoyed e-readers to read books, but also to play Spider Solitaire. The Nuggets were her favorite team (the Bulls in the 90’s a close second and, of course, the Twins and Rockies over the years were up there too). Marion loved animals, especially Matthew’s (she claimed them) dogs Blue and Belle. Marion’s music of choice was classic country and western (often listening to Eddy Arnold the last few years when her eyes failed her). Her Hank Williams cassette tape was stuck in her Jeep tape player for years because she didn’t want to hurt it trying to free it. Family and friends will all remember she was never anywhere without a bowl (maybe Fenton) of good candy. 

 Marion considered raising her children as her greatest life accomplishment. She adored them and her five grandkids: Robert Goehring (Dawn Collamer), of Lafayette, Colorado; Lora (Goehring) Mason (late husband Tony) of Loveland, Colorado; Jennifer (Tibbitts) Knudsen, of Parker, Colorado; Mike Baranovic (Katie), of Loveland, Colorado; and Luke Baranovic (Lindsay), of Juneau, Alaska (where Marion visited twice). She also cherished her 9 great-grandchildren: Xanthe, Nina, Spencer, Elizabeth, Matthew, Gabriel, Benjamin, Evelyn, and Elijiah. 

 Marion passed away at home on November 12, 2024. As a strong, spirited, and quiet woman, there can be no doubt that Marion has made a positive impact on the lives of those in her family and beyond. 

 Graveside services will be at Foothills Garden of Memories 14241 North 107th Street, Longmont, Colorado 80504 at 11:00 a.m. on November 25, 2024 with a reception to follow (until 2:30 p.m.) at the Berthoud Activity Hall 619 North 4th Street, Berthoud, CO 80513.

Condolences for the family may be sent to Post Office Box 461, Berthoud, Colorado 80513. 

Special thanks to Longmont United Hospital Storyteller Project Volunteers who captured our Grandma’s story, adapted here.