Marilyn Rose (Galvin) Van Vleet, 90, of Redfield, SD, passed away at home surrounded by family on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.  

   Her visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., with family present, on Thursday, June 15, at Hyke Funeral Home in Redfield.  A prayer service and time of sharing will begin at 7:00 p.m.

   Marilyn’s funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 16, at the Redfield United Methodist Church in Redfield.  Pastor Melissa Rowenhorst will officiate.  Interment will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery in Redfield, with lunch and fellowship afterward in the church hall.  The funeral service will be live-streamed on the funeral home’s website below Marilyn’s obituary.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Hyke Funeral Home (www.hykefuneralhome.com).

   Marilyn Rose Galvin was born July 4, 1932, in Redfield to Edward and Nell (Sparling) Galvin.  Marilyn grew up on the family farm west of Athol, SD.  They did not have electricity until the year she graduated from high school, so they used gas and wood for heat and other essentials.  She graduated from Athol High School where she was a cheerleader, class president her sophomore and junior years, and school queen her senior year.  After graduation, she helped on the family farm driving trucks, baling hay, and shocking wheat.

   She experienced tragedy at the age of eight when her mother passed away.  Around the age of 16, Marilyn took over her mother’s role of cooking and cleaning the house.   

   Marilyn met Cliff Van Vleet at a dance in Redfield.  He was funny, a real gentleman, and a very good dancer.  They were married in Redfield on September 5, 1953.  After a honeymoon trip to the west coast, they moved into an apartment in Redfield before moving out to the Van Vleet family farm southeast of Redfield. 

   Family was the most important thing to Marilyn.  She and Cliff raised six boys on the farm.  When the boys were old enough to help on the farm, Marilyn went to work in Aberdeen as a nurse’s aide, in Redfield as a clerk at the Ben Franklin store, and in housekeeping for over 20 years at the Redfield Community Memorial Hospital.  After retiring from the hospital, she spent many days volunteering at the Good Samaritan Center in Redfield.  It was Marilyn’s ambition to be a nurse, but raising a family on the farm is what she wanted most and was very satisfying to her. She and Cliff also spent many summers at West Whitlock fishing with a boat load of grand kids, cooler full of sandwiches, snacks, and drinks and her fishing pole with just a plain hook and a worm.

   Marilyn was a great cook and baker.  Mealtimes on the farm with six boys was something she took in stride.  Her cookies and bars were far better than any bakery.  Marilyn’s chocolate chip cookies were famous and were featured in area newspapers.  Marilyn also had a passion for collecting owl figurines, pictures, and other owl memorabilia.

   She cared deeply for all her family.  She enjoyed spending time with her grandkids and great-grandchildren.  She put her family’s needs ahead of her own and always helped others any way she could.  She had a twinkle in her eye, a smile on her face at all times, carried a positive attitude, and carried a faith-filled heart wherever she went. 

   Marilyn is survived by her sons: Gary Van Vleet of Redfield, Rick (Patricia) Van Vleet of Huron, Tim Van Vleet of Redfield, Kurt Van Vleet of Redfield, and Greg (Darla) Van Vleet of Bismarck, ND along with grandkids: Ashlee (Derek) Struble, Alandra Harrelson, Alyssa Van Vleet, Scott (Chris) Van Vleet, Eric (Macenzie) Van Vleet, Megan (Hayley) Snodgrass, Kason (Sarah) Van Vleet, Wylie Harr, Mike (Cori) Van Vleet, Emily (Matt) Rudel, Jesse Demmers, and Ashley Demmers. She is also survived by 11 great-grandkids: Holden, Madeleine, Emma, Lyric, Madelyn, Bennett, Kaden, Jazzlynn, Kasen, Kamryon, and Everlee.  Marilyn is also survived by brother-in-law Charlie (Marge) Van Vleet, nieces and nephews: Gwen Galvin, Ed (Judy) Galvin, Bryan (Vanessa) Galvin, Jon Galvin, Holly (Dean) Bottum, Steve Wanner, Jaymes (Lyn) Galvin, Colin (Vicki) Galvin, and Marijo (Shannon) Gulbranson, plus all the nieces and nephews on the Van Vleet side.

   She was preceded in death by her husband Cliff in 2010, brother Jerry in 2014, daughter-in-law Linda in 2017, and son Steve in 2020.  She was also preceded in death by sisters-in-law Lois Galvin, Vera Van Vleet, Audrey Bowers, Delores Becker, and Laura Johnson; brothers-in-law: Clinton Johnson, Clarence Becker, Robert Van Vleet, and Donald Van Vleet, and niece Annette Wanner.

   Condolences can be sent to the Van Vleet family at 17506 US Highway 281, Redfield, SD, 57469.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Marilyn’s honor to the Spink County Ambulance Service (1010 W 1^st Street, Redfield, SD, 57469), the Tri-County Good Samaritan Center (19 East 7^th Ave., Redfield, SD, 57469), your local hospice service, or your local Humane Society.