April 17 1934 December 25 2019
Marilyn’s Obituary Celebration of Life Service for Marilyn J. (Fong) Dester will be held at the Riverdale Christian Church in Riverdale, Nebraska on Saturday, January 4, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. with Mr. Jim Wilson officiating. A private family inurnment will be held at a later date at the Hope Lutheran Cemetery in rural Gosper County, Nebraska. Marilyn Joy (Fong) Dester, 85 years of age, of Kearney, Nebraska, passed away on Wednesday, December 25, 2019 at the Good Samaritan Society – St. Lukes’s in Kearney. Marilyn was born April 17, 1934, at Smithfield, Nebraska, the fifth of seven children to Walter and Magdalena (Bunsen) Hock. She began her education at the Smithfield Public School through the 11th grade, and then transferred to Bertrand High School at Bertrand, Nebraska where she graduated with the class of 1951. Marilyn then pursued higher education at Kearney State Teachers College, where she received her teaching credentials. She then taught in a one-room school house in Gosper County. On December 27, 1955, she was united in marriage to Duane Fong, and to this union four sons were born: Scott, Jeff, Mark, and Dan. The family made their home in Gosper County, where Marilyn focused her efforts raising her boys and caring for their home. On February 14, 1978, she was united in marriage to Dan Dester, and the couple made their home in Kearney. In later years, Marilyn began a janitorial service, which she operated for the next ten years. She then enjoyed providing home care for the elderly until her retirement. Marilyn enjoyed reading, writing, sharing scripture as she taught people the living word, and providing insight on how to apply it to people’s lives. She also loved spending time with her grandchildren. As Marilyn was a born-again Christian, it is comforting to the family that she was able to spend Christmas with her Savior in Heaven. Besides her parents and two former husbands, Marilyn was preceded by her son, Jeff Fong in 2004, and four brothers: Dean, Harlan, Donald, and Byron Hock. She leaves to celebrate her life, her three sons: Scott Fong and his wife, Karen of Ankeny, Iowa; Mark Fong and his wife, Peg of Kearney; and Dan Fong and his wife, Sandy of Kearney; daughter-in-law, Jeanette Fong of Denver, Colorado; eight grandchildren: Sarah Fong of Denver; Meagan Hock and her husband, Adam of Ankeny; Jedidiah Fong and his wife, Carrie of Canton, South Dakota; Kate Teters and her husband, Jeff of Lincoln, Nebraska; Emily Karg and her husband, Jeremy of Kearney; Micah Fong and his wife, Anika of Kearney; Abby Fong of Kearney; and Logan Fong of Cedar Falls, Iowa; eighteen great-grandchildren; one brother, Owen Hock of Penn Valley, California; sister, Marcia Stoll and her husband, Don of Grass Valley, California; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. There will be no visitation or memorial book signing. The family is honoring her wish for cremation. A memorial has been established in Marilyn’s honor, and kindly suggested to the family for later designation. Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements. Read More
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Marilyn J Dester April 17 1934 December 25 2019.
Mitchell Nelson Bauer Funeral Hom
Death notice for the town of: Oxford, state: Nebraska