Marlene Lorraine Popham

Marlene Lorraine Popham, 86, formerly of Sundance, Wyoming, died Monday, February 25, 2019, at Sturgis Regional Senior Care.

Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, March 4, 2019, at the First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis, South Dakota, with Pastor Harold Delbridge and Elder Niel Hinek officiating. Committal services will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.

Marlene was born September 25, 1932, in Sundance, to Joseph and Myrtle (Hutchins) Frank. Her father died and her mother married Henry Page who raised her like his own. Marlene graduated from Sundance High School.

Marlene married Gerald “Buster” Popham on February 6, 1952, in Newcastle, Wyoming. They lived in Gering, Nebraska and Sundance. She worked as a secretary at the Crook County School District in Sundance. After retirement, she worked at some odd jobs. She especially enjoyed substituting at the Spearfish school lunchroom.

Marlene and Buster hosted and attended numerous bridge parties. Marlene enjoyed making felt Christmas decorations and many people were blessed with her handiwork.

Even with her having diabetes, it didn’t stop her love of baking cookies and making apple pies to share with everyone. One of her favorite hobbies was doing jigsaw puzzles. She had assembled hundreds of them and the last two years, she enjoyed doing them on her iPad. 

Her greatest pride and joy in her life was her grandchildren, especially the time she spent living with her daughter, son-in-law and grandson, Kody, on their ranch. She could be found outside picking up tree branches, feeding calves, rescuing Scott on breakdowns or enjoying the beauty of the ranch.

The bond Marlene and Kody had was the greatest and strongest from day one. They spent many hours playing, watching their favorite shows, enjoying the outdoors and helping with school runs.

She is survived by her children, Joe (Jill) Popham, Denison, Iowa, Deb Rathbun, Basin, Wyoming and Heidi (Scott) Komes, Union Center, South Dakota; grandchildren, Kandi (Chris) Dooley, Greybull, Wyoming and Kody Komes, Union Center; great-grandchildren, Bree and Cade Dooley; sisters, Josie (Gene) Ewing, Spearfish, South Dakota, Maurine (Albert) Knapp, Gold Hill, Oregon and Robyn (Jo) Moug, Deer Park, Washington; and close family friends, Randy and Connie Cornella and family and Joe and Tami Baron and family.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; sisters, Karrol Brown and Judy Aberle; niece, Stacie Metcalf; and son-in-law, Floyd Rathbun.

Memorials have been established to the Rural Meade Ambulance and the Enning Fire Department.

Condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.kinkadefunerals.com.