Marilyn Eileen Malberg

Marilyn Eileen Staley Malberg February 15, 1958 - January 27, 2017 Marilyn lost her battle against Frontotemporal Dementia on January 27, 2017 at her home in Buhl, Idaho with her loving family by her side. Marilyn was born in Jerome, Idaho to two loving parents Lloyd and Eleanor Staley. She was the third addition to their family and the only girl. Marilyn was a bright child and a talented singer. With her Navy family she traveled extensively from the East Coast to the West Coast and a tour in Morocco, Africa.  She and her brothers were truly Navy Brats moving every two years as her dad's Navy assignments changed. When she was a junior in High School she made the All-State Choir in Massachusetts singing in her beautiful alto voice. When she was a senior in high school her family settled permanently in the Magic Valley, where her father was born and raised.  After graduating from High School she began her secondary education at Ricks College.  She held many church callings as youth music director and pianist, as well as chorister and youth teacher at various home wards. While living in Buhl with her two oldest children, Gregory and Tamara she welcomed her third child, Scott. She earned a degree in drafting at the College of Southern Idaho. Wanting to stay close to her parents she did not find a job in drafting. In 1983, while working as a station break switcher at KMVT she made a new best friend, Leo Malberg, who, after a 2 year courtship, made her very happy by asking her to marry him. The two were married on November 23, 1985 and were later sealed for time and all eternity at the Boise Idaho LDS Temple. After the wedding Leo and Marilyn had two more children, Benjamin and Christopher. She wanted to try for another girl, but it was not to be. The couple raised their family first in Buhl and later south of Filer on the Clover Track. Marilyn loved to sew and craft so it's no surprise that she worked part time at JoAnn’s fabric store   in Twin Falls. She made most of her children and husband clothes, even a few wedding dresses including lovingly stitching a wedding dress for her daughter. She also loved to make quilts and she handmade a quilt for each of her children, her parents and eventually herself. In addition to all of that she loved to do counted cross stitch and she created beautiful works of art with her needle and thread.  Marilyn also loved to spend her time in the great outdoors. She loved fishing with her husband and kids and she loved camping. In rain or shine and even snow you could find her many weekends in the South Hills. She was an accomplished big game hunter.  When the family needed to put venison in the freezer to eat she would traipse around the hills and drop a deer.  Even in her illness she preferred to be walking outside. She became involved in the Scouting Program and spent 12 years as a scout master raising her own cub scouts, boy scouts and even an Eagle Scout. In 1999 she decided to follow her dream of being an elementary teacher.  While holding down a part time job at the CSI Herrett Center Observatory/Museum and while raising a family she took all her generals through CSI graduating with an Associate's Degree.  She continued her Elementary education courses through Idaho State University through the outreach program at CSI until she graduated with her Bachelor's Degree carrying 3.5-4.0 average for the duration of her classes there. In 2004 she started her career at Hollister Elementary where she eventually became the 4th and 5th grade teacher at Hollister Elementary School in what she called "The Happiest Time Ever" teaching these wonderful kids. She loved her students so much she would have taken them all home but her husband said NO!   Marilyn is survived by her husband of 32 years, Leo Malberg of Buhl, her son Gregory (Kristine) Malberg of Twin Falls, daughter Tamara (Jud) Harmon of Kimberly, son Benjamin Malberg of Twin Falls, and son Christopher (Christine) Malberg of Moscow, Idaho. She has 9 grandchildren and one great grandchild. She is also survived by her brothers Lloyd Staley Jr. of San Jose, California and Michael Staley of Shelton, Washington.  Marilyn was preceded in death by her loving parents Lloyd and Eleanor Staley, her son Scott Malberg and her grandparents. Marilyn knew that life was precious and how important it was to make the most of every day. Although her life was cut short, at the time of her disease she had everything she wanted, her dream job, married to her best friend, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. She also lived a life of service. Whenever she saw someone in need she stepped in a volunteered. Whenever she saw something that needed to be done she stepped up and took care of it without regard to how it would inconvenience her or if it would have a negative impact on her. The family would like to express gratitude to the many people who provided she and Leo care at the end. St Luke's and Hospice Visions. A service for Marilyn will be held at a later date in hopes of a little better weather. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made in her memory to the Marilyn Malberg Education Scholarship Fund, care of the CSI Foundation, PO Box 1238, Twin Falls, ID 83303-1238 or online at www.csi.edu/foundation. Or, if you prefer, provide an act of service in her memory and hold your loved ones close.