SPIRIT LAKE — Marilyn Rae Monson, 77, of Spirit Lake and formerly of Newell, Iowa, whose life was distinguished by community leadership, historic preservation, public service and devotion to her family, passed away Monday, November 2, 2026, at her home in Spirit Lake.
Visitation will be held Friday, November 6, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Turner Jenness Funeral Home, 1302 Hill Avenue in Spirit Lake.
Funeral services will take place Saturday, November 7, at 10:30 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 2300 27th Street in Spirit Lake. The service will also be available via livestream through the church’s website.
Burial will follow Saturday at 2 p.m. at Newell Cemetery in Newell, Iowa. Family and friends are invited to gather afterward for cookies and coffee at the Allee Mansion. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Newell Historical Society, P.O. Box 5, Newell, IA 50568.
Marilyn was born February 13, 1949, at Porath Hospital in Storm Lake, Iowa, to Raymond Hi Doyen and Roberta Jennie (Knights) Doyen. She grew up in the Newell area alongside her brother, Robert, and developed lifelong ties to the community.
She was an active member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Newell, where she was baptized, confirmed in 1963 and later married. Her involvement included teaching Sunday school and vacation Bible school and singing in the church choir.
Marilyn graduated from Newell-Providence High School in 1967 and continued her education at Mankato State University, graduating in 1971. During college, she was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority and participated in campus activities.
On April 17, 1971, she married her college sweetheart, Paul Allen Monson of Emmons, Minnesota, beginning a marriage that would span more than 55 years.
The newlyweds initially lived at Dugway Proving Grounds in Utah, where Paul was stationed with the U.S. Army. When he was deployed to Vietnam later that year, Marilyn moved to Des Moines to stay with her brother Bob and his wife. She worked at Feldman’s Ladies Apparel at Merle Hay Mall during Paul’s military service.
Following Paul’s discharge in April 1972, the couple returned to Mankato while he completed his education. They eventually settled on a farm south of Newell, where they spent 36 years farming and raising their family.
Their two sons, Scott Allen, born in 1975, and Michael Paul, born in 1977, became central parts of a busy family life rooted in agriculture and community involvement.
Marilyn and Paul also owned Four Seasons Ladies Apparel Shop in Newell, adding small-business ownership to their many activities.
The couple helped establish the Newell Historical Society, serving on its founding board of directors and remaining involved for more than four decades. Marilyn coordinated historical tour guides, organized events and helped preserve the stories and heritage of the Newell community.
Her professional career expanded significantly in 1996 when she became director of the Buena Vista County Public Health Homecare Agency, serving as a licensed Iowa social worker.
She also served on the Iowa Association of Home Care Board of Directors and became an accomplished grant writer, securing support for the agency and community nonprofit organizations.
Marilyn helped develop the Buena Vista County Community Foundation, serving on its board and teaching grant-writing skills to others.
In 2003, Marilyn and Paul were founding board members of the Newell Children’s Center, another community organization that benefited from her grant-writing abilities.
That same year, Marilyn became managing director of the Storm Lake Chamber of Commerce, where she expanded her work into tourism promotion and economic development.
She served on the Western Iowa Tourism Board of Directors and traveled to Washington, D.C., to advocate for tourism funding. Her responsibilities included coordinating Storm Lake’s Iowa State Fair booth, the Buena Vista County Agriculture and Home Show and the local bridal show.
In 2009, she served on the Silos and Smokestacks Board of Trustees and attended the National Heritage Conference in Charleston, South Carolina. Marilyn was also an active member and past president of the Hy-Noon Kiwanis Club.
Her commitment to service extended to military families. Marilyn and Paul volunteered with Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, helping military personnel and employers navigate the transition from active duty to civilian employment. The work was especially meaningful to Marilyn, whose own early married life had been shaped by Paul’s military service.
Despite her many professional and volunteer commitments, Marilyn and Paul made time for travel and family adventures.
They enjoyed visiting their son Scott and his family in Alaska and later in the Omaha area, as well as traveling to Minnesota to spend time with their son Michael and his family.
Among Marilyn’s favorite travel memories was a 10-day bicycle trip through Germany and France, an experience reflecting the couple’s shared enthusiasm for exploring new places.
They also spent winters at their home in Green Valley, Arizona, where they developed lasting friendships.
In 2023, Marilyn and Paul moved from their longtime Newell-area farm to Spirit Lake, where they enjoyed the area’s bicycle trails and summer activities.
Marilyn is survived by her husband, Paul Monson; their son Scott Monson and his wife, Jill; and grandchildren Tyanna and her boyfriend, Damien, and Tyler and his wife, Ashley.
She also leaves behind four great-granddaughters, Emily Maire, Erika, Lynn and Elwynn Raye.
Other survivors include her son Michael Monson and his wife, Emily, and grandchildren Avery and Gavin; her niece Jodi and her husband, Dwaine; and her nephew Chris and his wife, Jessica, along with their children Chad, Luke, Owen and Quin.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Roberta Doyen; her brother Robert Doyen and his wife, Beverly; her brother-in-law Gary; and her brother-in-law David and his wife, Nancy.
From the family farm near Newell to her leadership in public health, tourism and historic preservation, Marilyn devoted much of her life to strengthening the communities around her.
Her work helped preserve local history, support families, develop community programs and create opportunities for organizations throughout Buena Vista County and beyond.
Those contributions, along with her love for family, faith and travel, leave a lasting legacy across Northwest Iowa.
Additional information, service details and opportunities to share condolences are available through Marilyn Rae Monson’s obituary at Turner Jenness Funeral Home.
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