Obituary of Jeanette Marlton

Jeanette C. Marlton, 89, of Cambridge passed away on Saturday, August 9, 2008 at the Cambridge Medical Center. Jeanette Cordelia Sherstad was born on March 29, 1919, at Donnelly (Stevens County), Minnesota, to parents Adolph C. and Florence Z. (Weltzin) Sherstad. She joined older siblings Carsten and Adeline and became older sister to brothers Carlyle and Emmett. Jeanette was baptized and confirmed at Kongsvinger Lutheran Church at Donnelly. The Sherstad family farm kept the whole family working side by side doing all facets of farm life; the family members had a love of music instilled in them by their parents' example. Jeanette played piano in the Sherstad Family Band that performed at church functions and 4th of July celebrations in the park. Jeanette shared her love of music with her husband and friends and gave her children a wonderful legacy of musical enjoyment, participation, and performance. Jeanette attended the District #56 school through 8th grade. While there, she was the star 1st baseman and only girl on the team. After 8th grade, she attended the West Central School of Agriculture (WCSA) in Morris to earn her high school diploma in 1937. She stayed at WCSA, now better known as the U of M Morris, where she took advanced home economics and business classes. She was the kitchen bookkeeper and supervisor of 22 workers; she also played basketball on the advanced women's team. It was also there that she met Arthur Marlton. After working as a bookkeeper for some years, Jeanette moved to Colorado Springs to be closer to Arthur, where she worked in a music store. In 1942 she moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where she worked at the Fort Omaha Base. She and Pvt. Arthur Marlton were married on November 7, 1942, at the Kountz Memorial Church of Omaha. To this union, five children were born: Pamela Jane (1943); Janis Rae (1947); Marcia Gay (1951); Debra Ann (1953); and Jon Arthur (1959). In 1944, Art and Jeanette moved to Charles City, Iowa, where they had purchased a dry cleaning business. Three years later, they moved to Cambridge, Minnesota, where they owned and operated the Paris Cleaners and also entered into the real estate business. They joined the Cambridge Lutheran Church in 1947 and were very active members. Jeanette served as a Sunday School, Confirmation, and Bible School teacher and was a member of the Dorcas Circle for many years, and, most recently, a member of the Hannah Circle. Art and Jeanette actively participated as Meals on Wheels deliverers and served seven years at the Cambridge Health Care Center as the Monday afternoon activity directors. She started the Cambridge version of Welcome Wagon in 1947. Jeanette was a 30-year member of the Cambridge Women's Club and served on the 10th District Executive Board as recording secretary for the Minnesota Federation of Women's Clubs for many years. She was a Brownie Scout and Girl Scout leader as well as a Cub Scouts den mother and 4-H club mother. She was a steadfast supporter of the music programs at Cambridge Schools, including the Pops Concerts fund raisers that benefited so many students. She enjoyed many years of bowling and golf leagues, was a charter member of the Purple Hawk Country Club, and enjoyed her winter trips to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, with Art. Jeanette was a long-time, true-blue and loyal Twins baseball fan and could give the pitching rotation from memory. Jeanette loved her family and friends unconditionally. She was known as a truly kind soul who would help others in any way she could. She always put her family before herself. Jeanette is survived by her five children: Pam (Jim) Peterson, Savage, MN; Janis (Tom) Scearcy, Alexandria, MN; Marcia (George) Phillips, Chapel Hill, NC; Debra Marlton, Ironton, MN; and Jon (Deborah) Marlton, Cambridge; her twelve grandchildren and one great-granddaughter, sisters-in-law Margie Sherstad, Glenwood, MN, and Darlene Sherstad, Grantsburg, WI. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 62 years, Arthur; sister Adeline Bakke, brothers Carsten, Carlyle, and Emmett, grandson Kyle Nielsen, nephews Ricky Sherstad and Steven "Skip" Sherstad, grand nephew, Eric Sherstad, and many uncles, aunts, and cousins.