Marjorie Stucky

Marjorie Alyce (Olson) Stucky

Marjorie Alyce (Olson) Stucky, 87, of North Newton, Kansas, passed away on December 25, 2014 at Kidron Bethel Health Care.

A memorial service will take place on Saturday, January 31 at 10:00 AM at Bethel College Mennonite Church, with New Creation Fellowship pastor Renee Kanagy officiating. Fellowship will follow the service.

Marjorie was born in Cheyenne County, Nebraska on June 11, 1927 to Amos and Lillian (Olson) Jobe. Marjorie was the youngest of four siblings, and still a baby when their mother passed away. She was adopted by her aunt and uncle, Rena and Elmer Olson; the family of three lived on their farm near Kanorado, Kansas.

Marjorie graduated from Kanorado High School in 1945 and attended college at Hays State University and later Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas. While still in college, Marjorie began teaching grades 1 – 8 in a one-room schoolhouse and attended college classes in summer school. She graduated from Bethel College in 1952 with a degree in elementary education.

Marjorie then accepted a teaching assignment in Puerto Rico through the Methodist Board of Missions and Church Extension, and returned to marry Willard (Bill) Stucky on August 8, 1954 in Goodland, Kansas.

Marjorie taught for three years in Moundridge and McPherson until their son Alan was born. The family then moved to Mexico where Bill served as a missionary in an agricultural program and where their daughter Jonita (Jo) was born. From there they moved to Elkhart, Indiana where Bill attended seminary. As the mother of two, Marjorie was a very happy homemaker and continued substitute teaching.

Upon Bill’s graduation from seminary, the couple served Mennonite churches in Deer Creek, Oklahoma; Liberal, Kansas; Turpin, Oklahoma; and Fort Collins, Colorado. While in Liberal, Marjorie served for four years as the director of Sunshine Center, and from 1974 – 1984, Bill and Marj were co-directors of Camp Mennoscah near Murdock, Kansas. In 1990 they moved permanently to North Newton, Kansas where they continued gardening, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. They were active members of New Creation Fellowship Church.

In 2011, the couple moved to Kidron Bethel as residents of health care. Even after her husband’s passing in 2013, Marjorie brightened Kidron’s halls with her beautiful smile. Marjorie passed away from pneumonia on Christmas morning, 2014.

Marjorie was preceded in death by her husband Willard, parents Rena and Elmer Olson, birth parents Lillian and Amos Jobe, three siblings from her birth family, Rowena, Francis, and Vivian, and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Carl and Linda Oberst, Sara and Jake Daum, Paul and Rosalie Stucky, Harry and Bertha Reimer, Martha Stucky, Mary and Menno Doerksen, and Ed Thiessen.

Marjorie leaves behind two children and their families: Alan and Mellina Stucky, and grandchildren Addison, Holden, and Ferrell of Denton, Texas; and Jo and Brian Suderman of Gardiner, Montana and grandson Aaron of Billings, Montana; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law Elizabeth and Wayne Belknap and Margaret Thiessen; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and friends.

Countless friends will remember Marjorie’s gentle, loving spirit. Her beautiful smile and sparkling eyes were a gift to all.

Memorial gifts may be contributed to New Creation Fellowship Church, Kidron Bethel Health Care , or Camp Mennoscah.