Born August 10, 1937, Marilyn was the third of four daughters born to Clayton and Martha (Scheltens) Habstritt. She grew up on a dairy farm in Raymond, MN. Education was an intricate part of Marilynâs life. After graduating from Raymond High School, Marilyn went to St. Cloud State University where she received a bachelorâs degree in Education in 1959. Marilyn began a long teaching career in the fall of 1959, spending 32 years in the Marshall school system, including 2 years teaching overseas. She also spent countless summerâs as a counselor at the girl scout camp.
In 1970, Marilyn married Ron McLaughlin and spent 40 years together before his passing. While Marilyn had no children of her own, she was fond of all the students who came through her classroom at West Side Elementary. Marilyn was devoted to her family, friends and enjoyed being part of the Marshall and SMSU community. She also loved her routine of having breakfast daily at Mikeâs Café with her sister.
Marilyn died on Saturday, October 19, 2019, at the Avaâs Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD.
She is survived by her sister Barbara Habstritt, nephew Tom (Jean) Scheef, nieces Laurie Leonhardt, Patti (Mike) Jungk, Carrie Wahl. Great nieces Julie (Brandon) Williams, Sara (Clinton) Houle, Nicole (Tyler) Pangerl, Amy (Kenny) Feld, April (Zach) Vickers, Angela (Neil) Wimer. Great nephews Tommy Scheef, Tony and Thomas Jungk. Great-great nephews and nieces Luke and Molly Williams and Brenna and Blake Houle, and a host of loving McLaughlin relatives, cousins, family and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Ron McLaughlin, sisters Eileen Jones and Shirley Scheef, brother-in-law Wilfred Scheef, and nephew David Scheef.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to the SMSU foundation under the Habstritt Scholarship are preferred.