Thelma "Marian" Franzman, 97, formerly of Grygla, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 25, 2025, at Villa St. Vincent in Crookston, Minnesota with her loving family by her side.

A celebration of Marian's life will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, with Rev. Vicki Saude-Worthington officiating. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. Burial will be held at St. Olaf Cemetery, rural Grygla, Minnesota.

Born on February 7, 1928, to Hjalmer and Laura (Breiland) Johnson on the family farm near Wannaska, Minnesota, Marian was the eldest of three children. She was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith at Riverside Lutheran Church. She attended a one-room country schoolhouse and later earned her GED from Grygla School. After the passing of her mother, Marian took on the responsibility of raising her younger sister, Helen.

Marian met Russell Franzman at the Farmers Union and they were married on June 6, 1960 in Thief River Falls. They honeymooned in Bemidji and built a life together on a farm near Grygla, where they raised two daughters, Lori and Darlene.

Marian worked as a nurse's aide during the tuberculosis outbreak and held various positions in Grygla including at the U.S. Postal Service, Nelson's Bar, Peterson's Bar, and Diamond Jim's. She later retired from Polaris in 1993.

She was an active member at the Grygla American Legion Auxiliary since 1985 and she was the treasurer at the Grygla Senior Citizens for many years.

She found joy in dancing, shopping, nature drives, sipping coffee while birdwatching—especially Orioles and Cardinals. She loved camping across Minnesota and proudly got her own tent at age 85. Deeply proud of her Norwegian heritage, she celebrated traditions like Christmas Fooling and cherished music-filled gatherings with family and friends.

Marian also enjoyed traveling by train to destinations such as Montana, California, and Chicago. Her warmth and resilience touched many lives.

Marian is survived by her daughters, Lori (Dean Lislegard) Franzman of Roseau and Darlene (Pete) Kozlick of Illinois; grandchildren, Laura (Matt) Cota of Red Lake Falls and Dylan Kozlick of Illinois; great-grandchildren, Iver, Sawyer, and Millie Cota; sister Helen Noggle of Georgia; many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Russell; brother James Johnson; many other relatives and friends.

May her memory bring comfort to all who knew her.