Marilyn Bang

Marilyn Bang, 85, of Joice, Iowa passed away on Monday, January 24, 2022 at Comforts of Home in Hudson, Wisconsin.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 29, 2022 at Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church, 3906 Bluebill Avenue, Joice, Iowa, with Pastor Kevin Olson officiating.

Visitation for Marilyn will be on Friday, January 28, 2022, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Schott Funeral Home, 505 N. Clark St. in Forest City, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.

Inurnment will take place at a later date.

Masks are strongly encouraged.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Church of the Lutheran Brethren, PO Box 655, 1020 W. Alcott Avenue, Fergus Falls, MN 56537 or to Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church, 3906 Bluebill Avenue, Joice, IA 50446.

Marilyn Jewel Gangestad was born to Clarence and Tena (Johnson) Gangestad on June 23rd, 1936 in rural Eagle Grove, Iowa. She joined one older brother, Charles and two older sisters, Evelyn and Thelma. Younger brother John came along in 1939. Her parents were farmers and they belonged to Holmes Lutheran Church in Holmes, Iowa. Marilyn went to country school through grade 8, then attended high school in Clarion and graduated in 1954. She attended Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa and got her degree in Christian Business Administration. After graduating in 1956, she moved to Minneapolis and worked at University Lutheran Church of Hope.

In 1957, she met Darrell Bang. They were married on June 13, 1958 and lived briefly in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Forest City, Iowa and the Eagle Grove, Iowa area. In 1966, they bought a farm in the rural Joice area where they lived for over 50 years. They raised their four children, Marit, Darla, David and Mark on the farm and enjoyed so many special family times together there. Marilyn helped with the field work and other aspects of farming until the Fall of 1981, when she got her foot caught in the PTO on the tractor. This curtailed her farm work, but she went on to work in several other jobs. They owned the Chuckwagon Café in Forest City for several years where Marilyn and her crew served up some delicious food. She spent her last years of employment at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Forest City.

Marilyn gave her life to the Lord when she was a child. After a boy in her Sunday School class died unexpectedly in an accident, she realized that people don’t always have time to make a decision right before they die. Marilyn has been a member of Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church for over 50 years. She has served in many capacities in the church and in the community.

Excellent cook, hard worker, terrific sense of humor, great listener and always a lot of fun, Marilyn was always ready to do anything. Marilyn loved spending time with family and friends. She was famous with her family for her chocolate chip cookies. She always had some in the freezer.

Preceding her in death are her parents, Clarence and Tena Gangestad; son-in-law Jack Davis; siblings Norman Gangestad (infant), Charles Gangestad, Evelyn Lehman, and John Gangestad.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Darrell Bang; her children and their spouses, Marit Davis, Darla (Woodie) Morley, David (Melanne) Bang, and Mark (Andrea) Bang; 13 grandchildren and their spouses; 11 great-grandchildren; sister Thelma Bang; and many other family members and friends.

Marilyn loved the Lord and loved reading her Bible. She had a deep love and concern for others and was a trusted prayer confidant. It was her desire to live her life to glorify God. She leaves this world with the promise of heaven and being with Jesus. She also looks forward to seeing her loved ones who have accepted Jesus into their lives there. This is one of her favorite quotes: “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.” --C.T. Studd

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