Marlis Joann Decoteau 1941-2022 Obituary

Marlis Joann (Spidahl) Decoteau went peacefully to be with the Lord and Savior on October 30, 2022 surrounded by her loved ones at the home of her daughter Malissa Fox in Thief River Falls, MN.

Marlis was born on November 8, 1941 in Maddock, ND to Melrin and Inga (Bjerke) Spidahl.  She was one of 13 children, and lived in the Maddock, Churchs Ferry and Devils Lake, ND area where she completed her education.  In her earlier years she spent several summers at her Aunt and Uncle Dahlberg's home in Minot, ND.  Growing up she babysat many nieces and nephews over the years.

Marlis was united in marriage to George R. Decoteau on July 21, 1956.   They made their home near Belcourt located on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation after briefly residing in Dryden, MI and San Francisco, CA.  At a very young age Marlis knew the meaning of hard work.  She was a loving and caring mother of seven children, they were her pride and joy.  As her children grew older, she went to work as a teacher's aide in the Belcourt Public Schools, making a difference in the education of many children.  Marlis worked as a private caregiver for a couple of years and then went on to work several years at the Presentation Medical Care Center in Rolla and Rolette, ND as a nurse's aide.  Marlis loved her job and taking care of the elderly residence, she loved them like they were her own family, and she took pride in serving people.  You could often find Marlis singing or visiting with the elderly bringing joy wherever she went.  Marlis had a heart of gold, for most of her life she was a caregiver for children and the elderly.

Marlis was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend. She enjoyed spending time with her family, visiting, singing, playing cards, praying the rosary, playing solitaire, crossword puzzles and word games.  She was always busy doing something, it was important to her to have a clean house, because of her busy schedule she would often clean house late at night after everyone had went to bed. She loved mowing her yard and it seemed to grow larger every year. She loved to go camping, fishing and enjoying the outdoors with her family. She spent a lot of time in her garden and in her kitchen, canning vegetables, baking bread and making pies from berries the kids picked.

Marlis is survived by five of her seven children, George A. Decoteau of Belcourt, ND, Mark (Tammy) Decoteau of Artesia, NM, Alex Decoteau of Belcourt, ND, Bonnie (Ross) Good of Rolla, ND, and Malissa (Jeff) Fox of Thief River Falls, MN, ten grandchildren, and several great grandchildren, brothers Donald (Bonnie) Spidahl, Merlin (Jane) Spidahl, sisters Eileen (Howard) Abel, Alice (Donald) Evenhus, Berdelle (Sylvester) Rathman and Donna (Dennis) Wolle, many nieces and nephews.

She is proceeded in death by her parents, husband George R., daughters Kathy Jo and Nicole, grandson Joshua Decoteau, brother, Gerald "Bud" (Julie) Spidahl, infant brothers, Leland, Duane and David Spidahl, and sisters Lilian (Gordon) Evenhus and Mildred (Sylvester) Lang.

Services will be held for Marlis Joann (Spidahl) Decoteau of Rolla, ND at 2:00 PM Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at her daughter Melissa's residence, 1133 Greenhill Drive, Thief River Falls, MN.