Marlene Brilz

Pierre, S.D.

Marlene Brilz, 80, of Pierre, SD passed away peacefully at the Avantara Nursing Home in Pierre on April 23, 2025.

Marlene Brilz was born on May 22, 1944 in Minot, ND, the daughter of Emery and Erna (Farnum) Blowers and grew up on the family farm near Lansford, ND. She overcame polio at an early age and graduated from Lansford High School.

After high school, she moved to Mohall, ND where she worked as a waitress at the Paragon Café and met Arnold Brilz, the love of her life. They married on December 30, 1965 in Mohall and raised two sons, Kenneth and Lynn. Marlene worked at various jobs, including the Mohall School cafeteria, as a cook at the Mohall Hospital and as a telemarketer at MTI.

In 1997, Arnold and Marlene moved to Minot and bought a home in the Oak Grove Neighborhood. Following the Minot Flood of 2011, they relocated to Pierre, SD. Arnold passed away in 2015.

She was known for being a wonderful cook and she loved to feed people. Her sons will tell you that she made the best chocolate chip cookies in the world.

She is survived by her sons Kenneth (Peggy) of Pierre, SD and Lynn (Nichole) of Cary, NC; brother Robert (Donalda) Blowers of Minot, ND; niece Tammy (Blowers) Rouse of Bismarck, ND; niece Kelli (Bruder) Johnson of Knoxville, TN; and niece Michelle (Blowers) Klimpell of Minot, ND.

She was preceded in death by her parents; Arnold, her husband of 49 years; brother Everett; and nephew Jimmy Bruder.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 am on May 29, 2025 at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home in Minot, ND. Burial will be at the Lansford Cemetery in Lansford, ND.

Published by The Minot Daily News, May 9, 2025.