Marlys J. Arends, 90, died on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, of natural causes at Fieldcrest Care Center in Hayfield, Minnesota, where she had been a resident since March 2017.

Marlys Baldner was born April 30, 1927, in Austin, Minnesota, to Walter and Helen (Nelson) Baldner.She grew up in Austin, attended school there and graduated from Austin High School in 1945. She was employed as a medical secretary in Austin for a few years. Marlys was married on June 5, 1949, to Lowell E. Arends at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lyle, Minnesota. The couple moved to the Arends family farm in rural Hayfield, where they built their own home, farmed for many years and lived for 60 years. Marlys was a farm wife and homemaker and was also employed as secretary and bookkeeper at the Rock Dell Creamery from 1959 until her unofficial retirement in 2009. Lowell was a lifelong farmer and self- employed grain dryer serviceman for 11 years. Mr. Arends died on May 8, 2009. Marlys was a member of South Zumbro Lutheran Church  where she was active with its prayer circles and fellowship groups and was a past member of East St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Rock Dell. She enjoyed fishing, traveling, music and square dancing with Lowell as well as sewing and quilting, gardening, doing crafts and painting. She doted on her farm cats and liked and collected butterflys. She enjoyed visiting with friends and loved time spent with family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Marlys is survived by her daughter, Barbara (James) Nelson of  Hayfield; six grandchildren, Troy (Josie) Sutton, Todd (Jessica) Sutton, Chris (Michele) Nelson, Stephanie (Shaun) Smallbrook, Tim (Kari) Sutton and Missy (Steve) Bowman; and 11 great-grandchildren, Sarah, Mason, Sophie, Ruby, Carly, Isaac, Aidan, Alex, Owen, Reese and Jackson. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lowell; a daughter, Nancy and her husband, Dennis Sutton; and a brother, Walter “Junior” Baldner and his wife, Hazel.

The funeral service for Marlys will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 8, 2017, at South Zumbro Lutheran Church in rural Kasson, Minnesota, with the Rev. Elden Simonson officiating. Burial will follow at East St. Olaf Lutheran Cemetery in Rock Dell, Minnesota.

A time of visitation for family and friends will take place from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017, at South Zumbro Lutheran Church and one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday morning.

Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray Funeral Home in Stewartville.