Marilyn Joan Ostlund Bottem

Marilyn Bottem passed away peacefully on July 29, 2011 after a short battle with cancer and a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. She was attended by her loving husband, children, grandchildren, and other close relatives at the Hospice Care Center in Bremerton, WA. Marilyn was also blessed by Thien Ho, who made her comfortable in her last weeks at the hospital and hospice center.

Marilyn was born to Harold and Elvira Ostlund on September 12, 1934 in Hoffman, MN. In 1942 the family moved to the Puget Sound Area, eventually settling in Kirkland, WA. Marilyn eventually attended Lake Washington High School, graduating in 1952, after which she attended Bible School in Minneapolis, MN for two years. A pianist and organist from an early age, Marilyn spent the summer of 1952 touring with an evangelist in the Midwest with lifelong friend Mildred Carlson (née Sandvik). She was active in her local church and led the teen youth group.

Marilyn worked for Sears until her marriage to James Bottem in 1956. She was a homemaker until 1977 when she went to work as an attendance secretary for North Kitsap High School. She worked there until 1985 to help put her children through college. Throughout her life she used her musical skills, especially for church work. She was a church pianist and organist for many years and was often called to play for weddings and funerals. She taught Sunday school in some capacity until the 1990s. When the family moved to Vancouver, WA in 1972, she and Jim helped found an AFLC Church there for which she played and taught. In 1976 they moved to Suquamish, WA, where they have lived ever since.

Marilyn will be remembered as steadfastly cheerful, hard-working, and a Bible-believing Christian who grew into a formidable prayer warrior. She expected the best from people and usually got it. She inherited and uncomplicated sense of humor from her parents and extended family. She made sure her kids knew they were loved, telling them more than once that they were extra wanted because they had been picked out specially.

She is survived by her brother Harlan, husband James, daughters Nancy Frye (Gordon) and Cheryl Holdcroft (Todd), son Rodney Bottem (Candy), and six grandchildren Lauren, Katherine, Ben, Eli, Andy and Darcy.

Services will be held Saturday, August 13 at Indianola Living Hope Church at 1:00 PM. Memorial gifts can be made out to Indianola Living Hope in memory of Marilyn Bottem.