December 31, 1930 – October 30, 2025
Marian Ruth Urbatch, 94, of Mason City, Iowa, passed away peacefully on October 30, 2025 at Good Shepherd Health Center.
A graveside service will be held at 11:30 AM, Monday November 10, 2025 at Manly Cemetery. A luncheon gathering of friends and family will be held at noon at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 428 W Walnut St, Manly, IA 50456 following the service. All are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, the family would like memorial donations to be made to a charity of your choice or to the Hospice Foundation, 4109 4th St SW Suite A, Mason City, IA 50401.
Marian was born December 31, 1930, to Theodore “Ted” and Ella (Wigern) Bendickson. She graduated from Hanlontown High School with the class of 1949. For 27 years, she worked for Manly First State Bank as an insurance agent. She was united in marriage to LaVern “Bud” Urbatch in 1952 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa.
Marian had a lifelong love of sports, cheering on her beloved Iowa Hawkeyes basketball teams; she rarely missed a March Madness game in springtime. In high school, Marian played on one of the first girl’s basketball teams in Hanlontown. She loved watching the Minnesota Twins, gardening, cooking food to bring people together, and shared her love of lefse making with many. She also loved family fishing trips, where laughter, stories, and togetherness were abundant.
Later in life, Marian discovered a new passion for travel. Her Norwegian heart led her to Norway, and many other countries and places within the US. She was always up for adventure, whether it was an airboat ride in Belize, fishing in Canada, or Drink of the Day on a cruise ship. She treasured moments spent with her children and grandchildren.
Marian was deeply involved in her community. She was a proud member—and later President—of the local Red Hat Society and the Mason City Women’s Club. She helped organize the Variety Show in Kensett and the annual Mason City Tour of Homes. She was involved in many many more organizations where she enjoyed lending a helping hand.But most of all, she had a deep love of her family, getting together to share good food, laughter, a good game or two and her smile of everlasting love.
Those left to cherish her memory are her sons, Doug (Jerri), Bradley (Candy) Urbatch, Bruce (Julie) Urbatch; 5 grandchildren Jennifer Schueller (Eric), Travis Urbatch (Nicole), Megan Steil (Ryan), Morgan Hurst (Christopher), and Ashley Urbatch, nine great-grandchildren; sister, Donna Mae Vanderhoof, as well as many nieces, nephews, friends, and extended family.
Preceding her in death are her husband, LaVern; parents, Ted and Ella Bendickson, and her sister, Elaine Thoen.
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