Marilyn (Cronk) (Breckenridge) Whetstone was born September 8, 1933, to Leslie L. Cronk and Mary Elizabeth (Whitney) Cronk in Polk County. Marilyn graduated from Huxley High School in Huxley, Iowa in May of 1951. On June 8, 1952, she married J. Robert Breckenridge at the Huxley Fjeldberg Lutheran Church. J. Robert died on March 8, 1972.
After J. Robert’s death, Marilyn attended DMACC to become an LPN. She worked at Mary Greeley Hospital until her retirement in 1995. Marilyn loved her job in the Obstetrics area and took care of many babies throughout her career.
On October 4, 1975, Marilyn married Roy Whetstone, Jr. in Ames Iowa. Roy and Marilyn enjoyed traveling, seeing friends and family, and making the best kringla and caramels in Iowa. Roy died on March 12, 2003.
Marilyn spent the last six years at Kennybrook Village in Grimes where she was closer to her daughter. She progressed through the different areas there until she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and moved to the skilled care area over two years ago. The family would like to express their thanks to the caregivers at Kennybrook who took care of Marilyn like she was their own mother.
Marilyn is preceded in death by her parents, her two husbands, her son Bob Breckenridge and her brother Homer Cronk.
Left to cherish her memories and to make their own kringla and caramels are Terry Breckenridge (Karen) of Centennial, CO; Kim Best (Ed) of Urbandale, Iowa; stepsons Terry Whetstone of Story City, Iowa; Neil Whetstone (Jane) of State Center, Iowa; and Dan Whetstone (Connie) of Scottsdale, AZ.; stepdaughters Karla Whetstone of Story City, Iowa; and Becky Fehring (David) of Missouri; 14 grandkids and 21 great grandkids; and one brother LeRoy Cronk of Elkhart, Iowa.
Funeral services will be at 10 am on Friday, September 9 at Stevens Memorial Chapel in Ames. Visitation will begin at 9 am until service time. Burial will be at Story Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be directed to the Mary Greeley Medical Center Foundation in Marilyn’s name and designated to the "Family Care Center (Birthways/NICU/Pediatrics)."
