Our Mom: Marily Ann Arndt-Marmon-Bryant

Marily Ann Arndt-Marmon-Bryant (Mom), daughter of Carl and Marie Arndt, was born April 9, 1941, at home in rural Belden, North Dakota (ND). She passed away on August 13, 2020, from natural causes while in the Stanley Hospital. Mom attended Stanley public schools and married her love, Nyla Richard Marmon on November 23, 1956, with a union that led to six children; Deborah Marmon-Hjelmeland (Duane ), Ruth Marmon-Weigel, Cindy Pierson (Steve), Brian Marmon (Jacque), Clinton Marmon, and Rosella Weston (David)[ contrary to Rosella’s belief the best was not necessarily last!] Mom was blessed, (and gave plenty of grace) to her 11 tenaciously spunky grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren. Nyla preceded her in death on January 2, 1970, after which she welcomed a second marriage to Merlin Bryant on October 13, 1972, where overnight she became the stepmother to 8 and eventually added an additional 13 grandchildren and a number of great grandchildren. Merlin preceded her in death on December 31, 2000. Mom was preceded in death by 2 brothers and 1 sister and is survived by 6 sisters.

We will always remember the special smile she gave when you walked into her home, her loving heart, booming (bellowing) voice, and warm strong embrace. Mom loved to cook and nobody left her house hungry. We will all testify she made the best chicken and noodles/dumplings you have ever had! Mom loved to have fun, play cards, dance, garden, cook, sew, and crochet. She listened tirelessly, without judgment, to our tall tales and never ending stories. We all remember the long tradition of a pancake breakfast the first day of hunting and her grandkids remember her scream of “get out of that garden” as they would sneak out to pick the early peas and carrots. She gave comfort to any crying baby (she had plenty of experience) and she seldom asked questions of her children or grandchildren that she didn’t already know the answer to. Mom had certain phrases that were hers and only hers, like “déjà-BOO”, “putting gas on the car” and “semi-dd”. I specifically remember a time that will always make me smile, at the end of a long hard day on the farm and she leaned over and asked daddy to carry her to bed and he looked at her, took her in his arms, smiled and said, “Mama I wish I could.”

We will always be reminded of her as we look at the evening sunset, gaze at a bouquet of flowers, see the northern lights dancing across the sky, watch the flittering of butterflies or see birds sitting on a birdfeeder.

Mom, we love you with all our hearts and will miss you terribly but we are ever so grateful you were here. No sentence, paragraph or constellation of words could ever cover what you have meant to us.

Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self seeking. It is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves. Love never fails. 1Corinthians 13:4-8.

Mom was a member of the Powers Lake Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She had strong beliefs in the Bible and enjoyed sharing them with others.

“Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He that exercises faith in me, even though he dies, will come to life.” John 11:25.