Obituary of Marilyn B. Des Jardin

After a nearly 20-year battle with Parkinson's Disease, Marilyn B. DesJardin, a 69-year-old resident of Minnetonka, Minn. passed away Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015 at her residence with family at her side. Yet to be scheduled is burial at the Minnesota State Veteran's Cemetery, Little Falls and a local visitation service. Marilyn Bernadette (Deering) DesJardin was born Feb. 18, 1946 in Little Falls, Minn. to the late Frank J. and Mary (Lepinski) Deering. Upon Little Falls High School graduation in 1964, Marilyn was united in marriage to Louis C. DesJardin Feb. 6, 1965 in New Britain, Conn. where they raised their three children until returning to Little Falls, Minn in 1974. Upon the passing of her husband Louis in 1994, Marilyn resided in Pierz, Minn. Seventeen years later, in 2011, she moved to Elder Homestead, a Volunteers of America assisted living center located in Minnetonka, Minn. where she was closer to medical personnel and her three sons. Marilyn is fondly remembered for her many creative talents which included calligraphy, cake decorating, painting, quilting, vegetable and flower gardening, home crafting, and photography. Marilyn excelled with a personal interest in photography and digital imaging. Subjects of her photography were many in the Morrison County area and included natural wonders such as the northern lights, winter-time sun dogs, thunderstorm clouds, farm landscapes, wildflowers (Pasque flower being her favorite) and of course the birds. Most of all, Marilyn enjoyed birdwatching either by herself or with family & friends, and would oftentimes take field trips to the countryside to explore. Marilyn is survived by her sons, Glenn (Brenda) DesJardin of Minneapolis; Paul (Debra) DesJardin of Stewart, Minn.; and Mark (Nanci) DesJardin and one grandchild Madeleine Grace DesJardin of Minneapolis. She is also survived by her siblings Eleanor Lindeman, Aitkin, Minn.; Daniel Deering, Anchorage, Alaska; Maggie Garin, Brainerd, Minn.; Jeannie Baribeau, Rice Lake, Wis.; and Lawrence Deering, San Diego, Calif.; and sister-in-law Eileen Deering, McGregor, Minn. Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Frank J. and Mary Deering; siblings, George, Edwin, Johnny, David; and loving husband Louis C. DesJardin who passed away Dec. 4, 1994.