Marian Reitan

Marian Anne Reitan 85, Fargo, went with God to her Heavenly Rest, on March 4, 2009. The family would like to thank the staff of MeritCare Palliative Care Unit for the wonderful comfort and care provided for Marian. Marian Anne Stemme was born October 4, 1923 in Dickinson, ND, the eldest of two children of Olaf and live (Iverson) Stemme When Marian was still an infant, the family moved to Fargo where her father started in the commercial construction business. Marian was educated in Fargo and graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1941. Living in Fargo offered access t the arts. She studied ballet taught ballet and was an excellent ballerina. Marian was an active twirling champion and a much sought after majorette for local USO functions. While attending NDSU, Marian was active in the Edwin Both and Little Country Theater and was voted Lilac Queen. She was a member f Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority and Phi Beta Honorary. Arian graduated from NDSU in 1945 with a degree in Home Economics. For the remainder of the WWII era, Marian was a stewardess with American Airlines on the New York – Memphis – El Paso route. In July of 1946, Marian married Daniel Reitan, after five years of wartime engagement and romance, when he returned from WWII service in European Theatre. The couple spent two years with the General Electric Company in the Atomic Energy Division where Marian worked in the confidential and secret documents library. During the time Dan was a professor at the University of Wisconsin, Marian was very active in a number of UW women’s organizing, directing, and speaking at the many social functions for the Wisconsin Governor’s Mansion. After retirement Marian and Dan moved to their home on Pelican Lake near Pelican Rapids, MN and together with their children and grandchildren enjoyed many summers of boating, sailing, fishing and waterskiing. Marian was a talented water-skier Marian is survived, after 64 years of marriage, by her loving husband Daniel K. Reitan, of Fargo, daughter Debra Holte of Denver, CO, daughter Danielle Reitan and her grandsons, Maxwell Reitan and Daniel Geisler of Plymouth, MN. A private Memorial Service and interment at Riverside Cemetery will be held in the Spring or Summer of 2009.