Marilyn M. Christianson

Marilyn M. Christianson, 92, passed away on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at the Baptist Home, Bismarck.

A private service will take place with burial at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.

Marilyn Christianson was born January 31,1933 in Devils Lake, ND. Her parents were Agnes and Ingebret Gordon. Marilyn was the fourth of six children. The family later moved to Grand Forks where she graduated from Grand Forks Central High School. 

Marilyn met Thomas H. Christianson in High School and they dated until June 5, 1955 when they married. Thomas graduated from Medical School at UND, and they moved around for Thomas to complete his medical training in Orthopedics. Thomas was a member of the United States Air Force. They lived in Dallas, San Francisco, Mather Air Force Base, Ca., where their daughter Julie was born and Los Angeles, where their son Peter was born. They settled for about nine years in Sacramento where Thomas had a private practice. 

In 1975, they moved back to North Dakota, and Thomas went to work at Q & R Clinic and Bismarck Hospital. Marilyn volunteered at several organizations, mainly the Meals on Wheels, and Bismarck Arts and Galleries Association (BAGA). Over the years, at BAGA she was the director and co-director. She spent hours at the gallery hanging pictures and helping out. She had her own kiln at home, and enjoyed ceramics. 

Both Marilyn and Tom loved to garden, and they enjoyed time together planting, weeding, and picking vegetables. 

Marilyn loved to cook and spent hours browsing through magazines and cookbooks to find recipes. She was a great cook, desserts were her specialty, especially her Mocha Chocolate Cheesecake. Her only cooking flop was eggplant casserole which her family reminded her of for years afterwards. 

Marilyn was a kind, generous, and caring mother and grandmother. A highlight of her children’s day was coming home from school to freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. She will be missed. 

Marilyn spent her last two years at the Bismarck Baptist Home with advanced Alzheimer’s. Family would like to thank the staff for their excellent care and compassion.

Marilyn’s immediate family includes her husband, Thomas Christianson, son, Peter Christianson, (Significant other, Cathy), daughter Julie Zent, (Paul), grandsons Tyler Zent, (Tia), and Trey Zent, (Emily). She has one great- grandchild, Tenley Zent. 

Memorials can be made to the Furry Friends Animal Rescue in Bismarck. Marilyn loved cats, not so much, horses. When Julie was young and showed her horse, Marilyn was the one who pitched in to French braid the horse’s tail.