Marian Lyman

Marian Louise Lyman, 84, formerly of West Fargo, passed away peacefully on December 1, 2009, at the Villa Maria in Fargo, ND. Marian was born to Elias and Louise (Erstad) Smerdahl on May 21, 1925, in Lisbon, ND. Marian, whose given birth name was Mary Ann, but was incorrectly written on her birth certificate, lived on the original Erstad homestead east of Lisbon and attended school at the Big Bend School District #12, a mile northeast of the farm. After her mother passed away in April 1944, Marian moved to south Fargo where she lived with the Merrill and Opal Green family and helped with their three young children. She attended and graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1945. After graduation, Marian worked for Western Union in Chicago before moving back to Lisbon in 1946. On September 22, 1946, Marian was united in marriage to Stanley Lyman at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lisbon. They farmed in the Lisbon area where their three sons, Mike, Terry and Doug were born before moving to West Fargo in 1961. Stanley died in 1996. For nearly twenty years, Marian was employed by the West Fargo School District L.E. Berger Middle School. She retired in 1983 due to progressive and crippling rheumatoid arthritis. Marian was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother whose kitchen was always filled with the smell of baking sugar cookies, homemade pies and fried donuts. Marian was a life member of the West Fargo VFW Post 7564 Ladies Auxiliary, an active member of Faith Lutheran Church and Circle leader of the senior craft club at the West Fargo high rise. Marian is survived by two sons: Michael (Linda) Lyman, Dilworth, MN and Dr. Douglas (Patsy) Lyman, Spencer, WI; sisters: Helen Miller, Lisbon, ND and Dorothy Riddle, Tecumseh, MI; five grandchildren: Michael Jr., West Fargo, ND, Christopher (Christi), Firestone, CO, Jessica (Jason) Gorst, Marshfield, WI; Pamela, La Crosse, WI and William, Estherville, IA; four great-grandchildren: Hunter, West Fargo, ND; Anthony Jon and Alex Vaughan, Firestone, CO and Ava, Estherville, IA. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son, Terry and sister, Josephine Patterson. Marian’s family would like to express their appreciation to the Villa Maria staff for the loving care and treatment she received during the past six years. Funeral: Saturday, December 5, 2009, 2:00 PM, Faith Lutheran Church, West Fargo, ND Visitation: Saturday, December 5, 2009, 1:00 to 2:00 PM, Faith Lutheran Church, West Fargo, ND Burial: Sunset Memorial Gardens, Fargo, ND.