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A funeral service for Marilyn Rae Monson, 77, of Spirit Lake and formerly of Newell, will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake. A livestream of the service can be found on the church’s website. Visitation will be held Friday, Nov. 6, from 5-7 p.m. at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake.
Interment will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Newell Cemetery. Following the graveside, please join the family for cookies and coffee at the Allee Mansion. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials in honor of Marilyn to: Newell Historical Society, PO Box 5, Newell, IA 50568.
Marilyn was born Feb. 13, 1949, at Porath Hospital in Storm Lake to Raymond Hi Doyen and Roberta Jennie Knights Doyen, and brother Robert Hi. She was a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Newell where she was baptized, confirmed in 1963 and married in 1971. She taught Sunday School and vacation Bible school as well as sang in the choir. Marilyn graduated from Newell Providence High School in 1967 and from Mankato State University in 1971. She was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority and active in campus activities.
On April 17, 1971, she married her college sweetheart, Paul Allen Monson, from Emmons, Minn. They spent the first married months at Dugway Proving Grounds in Dugway, Utah, where Paul was stationed in the Army. Paul was deployed to Viet Nam later that year. Marilyn moved to Des Moines and lived with her brother Bob and wife Bets. She was employed at Feldman’s Ladies Appeal in the Merle Hay Mall.
Paul was discharged in April 1972. They returned to Mankato State University for Paul to finish his degree. They then moved to the farm south of Newell and farmed for 36 years. The family was blessed with two sons, Scott Allen in 1975 and Michael Paul in 1977.
Paul and Marilyn were owners of the Four Seasons Ladies Apparel Shop in Newell. During that time, they were part of the founding board of directors of the Newell Historical Society, which they enjoyed for over 40 years. Marilyn coordinated tour guides sharing the community’s heritage as well as project chairmen for numerous events.
In 1996 Marilyn became the director of the Buena Vista County Public Health Homecare Agency as a licensed Iowa Social Worker. She served on the Iowa Association of Home Care Board of Directors. She wrote many grants for the agency as well as several Newell community nonprofit organizations. She assisted in developing the Buena Vista County Community Foundation Board, of which she was a board member and an instructor for grant writing. Paul and Marilyn were on the founding board of directors for the Newell Children’s Center in 2003, where grant writing again was very successful for Marilyn.
In 2003 she became the managing director of the Storm Lake Chamber of Commerce and became involved with tourism. A member of the Western Iowa Tourism Board of Directors, she traveled to Washington, D.C., to lobby for tourism funding. She was the coordinator of the Storm Lake Iowa State Fair booth for years as well as the local Buena Vista County Ag and Home Show and The Bridal Show. She held a position on the Silos and Smokestacks Board of Trustees in 2009 and attended the National Heritage Conference in Charleston, S.C. She was a member of Hy-Noon Kiwanis Club and past president.
Marilyn and Paul were volunteers for the Employer’s Support for Guard and Reserve, assisting soldiers and employers with transition from active service to civilian life. Marilyn found this volunteer work very rewarding.
Marilyn and Paul enjoyed many trips to Alaska to visit their son Scott and family, who now live in the Omaha area. Also traveling to Minnesota to their son’s home, Michael and family. They enjoyed traveling. Marilyn’s fondest memory was a 10-day bike ride through Germany and France. Their winters were enjoyed at their home in Green Valley Ariz., where they met many wonderful friends. In 2023 they moved from their farm to Spirit Lake, taking advantage of bike trails and summer activities.
Marilyn passed away Nov. 2, 2026, at her home in Spirit Lake at 72 years of age.
Preceeded in death by father and mother, Raymond and Roberta Knights Doyen; brother Robert and his wife Beverly Doyen; brother-in-law Gary; brother-in-law David and his wife Nancy.
Survivors include her husband Paul Monson; son Scott Monson and his wife Jill; and grandchildren: Tyanna and her boyfriend Damien; Tyler and his wife Ashley, and great-granddaughters Emily Maire, Erika Lynn and Elwynn Raye; son Michael Monson and his wife Emily, and grandchildren Avery and Gavin; niece Jodi and her husband Dwaine; and nephew Chris and his wife Jessica and their children, Chad, Luke, Owen and Quin.
