Marilyn Reta (Moderie) Dundas, 86, passed away April 14, 2024 at Clovis Community Medical Center in Clovis, California, following a brief illness. Marilyn was born December 31, 1937 in Missoula, Montana to Elma M. E. (Taylor) and Joseph F. “Pete” Moderie.
She grew up on the family cattle ranch up Valley Creek west of Arlee, where she developed her lifelong love of horses. She attended the Upper Valley Creek school through her elementary years. Marilyn went to Arlee High School for her freshman and sophomore years, before transferring to Missoula County High School in Missoula, where she graduated in 1956. Following high school, she attended the University of Montana in Missoula, majoring in art. Although she did not complete her degree, Marilyn always remarked upon how much she enjoyed working with the U of M art faculty in the late 1950s, particularly the newly arrived professor Rudy Autio.
Throughout her life, one occupation best defined Marilyn above all others, that of artist. She was multi-talented. She produced pastel chalk paintings, did professional photography for horse shows, rodeos and races, completed dozens of ceramic pieces, painted an outdoor wall mural in downtown Missoula, Montana for Birdwatchers’ Country Store, and much more.
Marilyn married Robert “Bruce” Dundas on February 1, 1964. They lived in San Diego while Bruce was in the Navy. Following his discharge from military service, Bruce and Marilyn returned to Missoula in early 1966.
During the early to mid-1980s, Marilyn worked at St. Patrick Hospital in housekeeping and at the University of Montana in dining services. From the late 1980s through mid-1990s, Marilyn lived in Winnemucca, Nevada, where her husband Bruce was working for Newmont Mining Corporation. While Bruce was working, Marilyn involved herself in the ceramic arts community in Winnemucca. In 1996, Marilyn returned to Montana to care for the family home and was later joined by Bruce, following his retirement. After Bruce passed away in 2013, Marilyn continued to live in Missoula until 2016, when she went to Clovis, California to live with her son and family.
Throughout her life, Marilyn loved horses and horse racing, including raising Quarter Horses for pleasure riding and racing. She also loved cats and there were always cats in the house. She was fond of all critters and often would nurse injured animals back to health, whether they be birds, ground squirrels, chipmunks, and more. Marilyn was a sports fan. Not only did she love horse racing, but she was a big fan of professional ice hockey and University of Montana Grizzly football.
Marilyn always looked forward to family gatherings and loved playing cards and board games. In recent years she spent much of her time playing games on her iPad and listening to audio books. A major highlight and joy of her life in recent years was watching her grandson Christopher grow, play and start school. She liked to call him “Speedy” because he was always on the go, zipping around the house from one thing to the next.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents Pete and Elma Moderie, husband Bruce Dundas, and siblings Doris (Moderie) Zander, Joe Moderie, Jeanne (Moderie) Oppegaard, and Patricia (Moderie) Moore.
Survivors include her son Robert, daughter-in-law Lyna and grandson Christopher of Clovis, California and son Ryan of San Jose, California. Several cousins, many nieces and nephews, and many grand-nieces and grand-nephews also survive her.
A celebration of Marilyn’s life will be held in Missoula, Montana at a later date.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.6