Marilyn R. Klinefelter Died February 29, 2020

Marilyn R. Klinefelter

Died Feb. 29, 2020

SUTTONS BAY – Marilyn Ruth Klinefelter, 89, of Suttons Bay, passed away on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at Munson Medical Center.

Marilyn was born on March 3, 1930 at the family home in Suttons Bay the last child of Carl L. and Lena (Bahle) Garthe and granddaughter of early Leelanau County Norwegian settlers.

After graduating from the Union Stone School in 1947, she attended Central Michigan University and earned her teaching degree.  She briefly taught Glen Arbor kindergarten and moved to the Northport High School in September 1953.  There she met another new teacher, Tom Klinefelter, and they were married at the Suttons Bay Congregational Church on June 18, 1955.

Tom accepted a teaching position in the Detroit area in the early 1960s and with their growing family in tow, moved to Livonia where they remained until the early 2000s.  Here, Marilyn was very active in her church, volunteering and sitting on many boards.  She was especially proud of being area president of Church Women United for the Detroit area.  Marilyn and the family returned to Suttons Bay every summer and ran the Bay Theatre from 1961 until 1976.  After Marilyn’s mother passed in the early 1980s, she took over the Garthe Guest House B & B in the village which had been run by her family since the early 1930s.  After leaving downstate and returning to Suttons Bay, she ran the B & B full time, welcoming back returning guests year after year.  Marilyn had a great sense of humor and was a friend to any one she came in contact.

Some of Marilyn’s pastimes were enjoying a sit & sip of tea and cookies, sewing, reading, and a rousing game of Canasta.  She was an avid pursuer of antiques and loved a good yard sale.  She always dreamed of her own antique shop and her home was full of treasures – a testimony to her dream.  Marilyn had an infectious smile with a twinkle in her blue eyes which lit up a room.  Her many selfless acts earned her many close friends which she remained in contact with for years.  She loved to write a letter or a note and tell a good story.

She and Tom loved to travel and spent many winters in Florida and Alabama with family and friends, but her most memorable trip was to her parents’ ancestral home in Surnadal, Norway, where she spent time with distant cousins and visited family homesteads.  Her travels also took her and Tom to Great Britain, Asia, Alaska, Russia, the Panama Canal, much of the U.S. and many islands in the Caribbean.

Marilyn is survived by her loving husband of sixty-four years, Tom; three children, Thomas Klinefelter, Robert (Lisa) Klinefelter, Catherine Klinefelter; and a sister in law, Elna Garthe.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and eight siblings, Laurel Blackmer, Carlton Garthe, Arnold Garthe, Dorothy Woodworth, Stanley Garthe, Ray Garthe, Bob Garthe and Phil Garthe.

A gathering will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, March 6 at Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay. 

The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 7 with the family greeting friends at 10 a.m. at the Suttons Bay Congregational Church.  Rev. Dr. Robin Carden will officiate.

Private family burial in the Lutheran Cemetery of Suttons Bay will be held at a later date. 

Memorials may be directed to Suttons Bay Congregational Church, PO Box 70, Suttons Bay, MI 49682.

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