Marlene Margaret Stegelmeier Bunderson

Marlene Margaret Stegelmeier Bunderson passed away peacefully March 29, 2011 surrounded by loving family members and will be missed by all who knew and loved her. Marlene was born November 7, 1933 and is the oldest child of Dora and Louis Stegelmeier. She and her two younger brothers and two little sisters grew up in their beloved community of Green Timber, Idaho among many extended family members. She met her sweetheart Whitney Bunderson when she moved to the Bear Lake Valley and they enjoyed many adventures together most of all taking long drives around the valley, up the canyons and around the lake with a picnic lunch and a bucket for picking any berries they might find along the way and would usually come home with a rock or two to add to moms collection. One of their craziest adventures together was adopting a set of ten year old twins! She enjoyed many talents including painting, writing, candy making, and wedding cake decorating and referred to herself as a "rock hound" because of her love of geology. Her life was full of countless ambitions and achievements. She was a graduate of Ricks College where she earned a Bachelor Degree and was Chief Editor of the yearbook. She continued her love of writing as the author of "Gray Matters" a news column for the Bear Lake News Examiner even up until the week she died. Many have enjoyed her sense of humor and insights about life shared in her weekly news column. She also graduated from Utah State University with a Master Degree and served as the Extension Home Economist for the Bear Lake County for many many years. Many will remember her wonderful food demonstrations, Christmas Fairs and her work with the 4-H Program and County and State Fairs. She loved her work and all those she associated with. Her family and friends were the most important things to her and she enjoyed life to its very fullest. She liked a quote by Ivy Baker Priest-The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be the beginning. Here's to happy endings and wonderful new beginnings!
She is survived by her two children: Becky David Wilde of Smithfield, UT and Bruce Slava Bunderson of Laguna Hills, CA, and six grandchildren: Alana Daren Ricks of Logan, UT, Aliss, Katelyn, Tyrel, Owen, & Reed, all of Smithfield. She is also survived by two brothers and one sister: Loran Ann Stegelmeier of Rexburg, ID and Roy Kathy Stegelmeier of Ashton, ID and Karla Richard Nurnberg of Ohio and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister: Twila McNeely, a brother-in-law: Tom McNeely, a sister-in-law, Trudy Stegelmeier, and her husband.
Funeral services will be held at 4:00 PM on Friday, April 1, 2011 in the St. Charles, Idaho LDS Ward Chapel, 75 North Main Street in St. Charles, Idaho. A viewing will be held on Thursday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the St. Charles LDS Church and prior to services on Friday beginning at 2:00 PM. Interment will be in the St. Charles, Idaho Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.nelsonfuneralhome.com