Marilyn Herzog

Marilyn (Heggeness) Herzog passed on Sunday morning March 20 as a result of a prolonged illness. She was born on August 11 , 1948, in Detroit Lakes to Vincent and Margaret (Mclaughlin) Heggeness. She grew up in Detroit Lakes and graduated from Detroit Lakes High School in 1966. That same year, she married Richard Englund, whom she divorced three years later. It was a short marriage, but long enough to have her first son, David.

In 1970, she married the love of her life, Doug Herzog, a fellow classmate from Detroit Lakes, who by now was a U.S. Navy sailor. He whisked her off to an adventure in Hawaii to begin a life of travel, raising a family, sharing kisses, and enjoying life together. They lived in Tennessee, Virginia, Sicily, and Minnesota before settling in Fargo in 1988. They played in a poker club with a wonderful group of friends for over a decade and more recently reconnected with their classmates. They helped organize and attended reunions and lunched with classmates on a regular basis.

Marilyn was an avid reader and enjoyed watching movies and TV shows, cooking, crocheting, and cats. There was always a cat or two in her life. She loved spending time with friends and family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchild.

She spent a lifetime helping others have a more fulfilling life. As a young adult, Marilyn worked as a nurse’s aide, helping patients of all sorts. Later, she raised two boys into productive, responsible adults. Working as an ombudsman for the aircraft carrier U.S.S. America gave her great pride. As such, she was an advocate, resource, mentor, and counselor for the wives of the sailors stationed on the ship. Just as importantly, she worked at a suicide hotline in Fargo, a voice in the night for people who needed one. Marilyn was there for the people who needed her the most. Before retiring, she worked at Quality Bakery in Fargo, sending people off to work with a donut and a smile.

Marilyn strove to make her friendships meaningful relationships. She cared deeply for the people in her life. She cared about people and about people’s feelings. She made a person feel important, valuable, and heard. She was known for having deep, meaningful conversations that nourished the soul. Marilyn could also be passive-aggressive, but in a sweet way, not forcing anyone to talk to her or visit her a on a special day unless they genuinely desired to. She had a good-natured, sassy, fun streak in her with an infectious smile and a healthy sense of humor. Marilyn had a kind heart. She was gentle, considerate, unselfish, compassionate, and thoughtful. Full of spirit, she fought until the last second, defying all doctor’s predictions.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband Doug, mom and dad Margaret and Vincent, and brother Fred. She is survived by her sons David, Damon (Candy), grandchildren Alex (Britta), Taylor, Maggie, Brady, Jacob, and Bella, and great-grandchild Jaxun.

Marilyn loved the people who were important to her, and they loved her. She will be missed, and she will miss you.

A funeral service will be held at David-Donehower Funeral and Cremation Service in Detroit Lakes, MN at 1:00 pm on Friday, March 25 with visitation 1 hour prior to the service.