Marlene Virginia Geraud

Marlene Virginia Geraud, age 79, went home to be with her Lord on August 27, 2016 in Nevis, MN after battling lung cancer. She had been staying with her good friends, Don and Jan Francis.    Marlene was born October 25, 1936 to Alfonse and Violet (Lund) Geraud in Wenatchee, Washington.  When she was five, the family moved to Grand Coulee, WA.  Her mother soon started a children’s Bible club in the home and it was there that Marlene accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior.  During her growing up years, the family showed hospitality to many missionaries and rural church workers. She graduated as valedictorian from Grand Coulee High School in 1954 and Multnomah Bible School (now Multnomah University) in 1957. After working with Child Evangelism for a few years, she attended and graduated from Seattle Pacific College with a teaching degree.    In 1969, she headed to Bouake, Cote d’Ivoire to teach at the Ivory Coast Academy, a school for children of missionaries.  Her short-term of one (1) year turned into 31 years there.  After teaching 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders for several years, she became the Dining Room Supervisor and made desserts for the staff and children everyday.  Many palates were pleased by the delicacies she baked at the school and later at Faithbridge Church, after she retired.  Before retiring from ICA in 2001, she taught 2nd graders again for four years.    Upon retirement, she moved to Park Rapids to share a home with her good friend, Marjean Engelhart, whom she had met at ICA in Cote d’Ivoire.  Marlene was an active member of Faithbridge Church in Park Rapids, MN since 2001. She served actively in many areas:  Awana Sparks and T&T Girls leader, Awana council time presenter, Release Time teacher, Faith Mission Circle President, Library worker, Sanctuary prep volunteer, and for three years taught DVBS on the White Earth Reservation during the summer.    Marlene enjoyed tenderly caring for the flowers and plants around the house.  She spent time enjoying the many birds that came to their feeders.   A walk into the woods provided her the pleasure of picking her own blueberries and the garden she tended produced veggies, strawberries and raspberries for her and Marjean.    She is survived by her sister, Beverly Durstan of Steinbach, Manitoba,   Canada; a nephew, Brian Durstan of Salmon Arm, British Columbia and three nieces, Connie Johnson of Steinbach and Kathy Elias and Leanne Allison of Winnipeg, Manitoba.  She was preceded in death by her parents.     She will be lovingly remembered by her students and many friends, here and abroad who rejoice in the knowledge that she is with Jesus and is whole of body once again.   A memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM on Friday, September 2, 2016 at Faithbridge Church in Park Rapids, MN. There will be a visitation held one hour prior to the start of the service at the church. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Park Rapids, MN.        In lieu of flowers, Marlene wished that all memorials be given to Camp Lebanon in Butrum, MN or to St. Joseph's Hospice in Park Rapids, MN.