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Marlys J. Westling Obituary – 7/6/2015


Marlys June Westling, age 99, of St. Louis Park, died Monday, July 6, 2015, at the Good Samaritan Society in Howard Lake.

She was born June 11, 1916, in Wright County, to Cecil and Marie (Nelson) Triplett.

Marlys grew up on her family’s farm, and at the age of 14, she moved to Minneapolis, where she worked as a housekeeper for an elderly couple.

Marlys and Richard Westling were married Sept. 20, 1932, at the age of 16, in Minneapolis. They purchased a 40-acre home in St. Louis Park on what is present day Minnetonka Boulevard.

Marlys and Richard were blessed with the birth of a daughter, Marlys. During the war, Marlys and Dick, along with the help of their daughter, raised chickens and hogs and sold them door-to-door.

After the war was over and a demand for housing grew, Marlys and Dick owned and operated Westling Construction from 1946-1970, working as builders and developers in St. Louis Park.

Marlys’ keen eye, her sense of style, and her knack for decorating helped their business flourish. She enjoyed working alongside her husband, spending time in her home, and tending to her yard and gardens. She loved to entertain and host family and friends, with the Christmas season being her favorite.

Marlys had a love for animals, especially cats. She liked to go out for dinner, and was a sharp dresser. She was thrifty, yet had a generous heart, and will be dearly missed by many.

Marlys is survived by her son-in-law, Ronald Nelson of Dayton; grandchildren Kathy (Russell) Fischbach of Coon Rapids, Mitchell (Karen Franson) Nelson of St. Louis Park, John Nelson, and Wade (Gina Rosa), all of Malmo; four great-grandchildren: Angela (Rick) Jansen, Becky Nelson, Nick Nelson, and Jami Nelson; a brother, Bud (Delores) Triplett of Seattle, WA; sister-in-law Gladys Triplett of Howard Lake; and many nieces, nephews, and other family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 74 years, Richard; her daughter, Marlys June Nelson; brothers Roger, Erwin, Robert, and Donald Triplett; and sisters Irene Scherer and Lois “Babe” Gustafson.

Funeral services took place Friday, July 10 at 10:30 a.m. at the Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel in Annandale, with Rev. Ruth Hograbe officiating. Sarah Goelz provided music for the service, and interment followed at Woodlawn Cemetery.

There was visitation one hour prior to the service.

Mitchell Nelson, Russell Fischbach, Sharon Nelson, and Rick Jansen served as pallbearers.

Arrangements were entrusted to Dingmann Funeral Care Burial & Cremation Services of Annandale. Obituary and guestbook can be found online at www.dingmannfuneral.com.

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