Marlene Virginia Molenda

Marlene Virginia Molenda died October 2, 2019, at the age of 87 at the Meadowlark Manor in Whitehall, Montana. She was born November 6, 1931 in Butte, Montana, to Peter and Anna Molenda and raised in Whitehall with four brothers. She graduated from Whitehall High School in 1949 and married Raymond Howry. They moved to San Diego where she gave birth to daughters Brenda and Raylynn. She was an exceptionally-hard worker...from the ranch, to the feedstore, to J.R's Corner to the Whitehall Country Store...she worked tirelessly throughout her life.

In 1989, she married Dale Sacry, her first crush in high school, and expanded her family to include nine beautiful children whom she treated as her own.

Her most cherished name was "Grammy" given to her by granddaughters Roni, Sunny, and Bobbi. Her great-grandkids Hunter, Taylor, Heather and Ryder Haskins; Hannah, Deven, Grace, and Jaxson Cain; and Brendan and Parker Wagner were her greatest joys in life.

Marlene loved to play cards with her lady friends and family and took our money many times. No IOU's were accepted! She enjoyed playing bingo and traveling on the Big Sky Bus to Worley, Idaho, which her daughter, Raylynn, founded so they could spend fun times together.

One of her greatest attributes was her sense of humor. She kept us laughing with her jokes and quick wit. Her grandkids all know her "dirty" jokes which will be passed down through the generations.

A highlight of her life was being reunited with an aunt and cousins in Poland where her dad was born.

Marlene was preceded in death by husbands, Raymond Howry, Jeff Lauderdale, and Dale Sacry; daughter, Brenda; mother and father, brothers Jim, Larry, and Pete; and sister-in-law Shirley.

Marlene is survived by daughter, Raylynn (Daryl) Van Oort; brother Ron Molenda; granddaughters, Roni (Marc) Haskins, Sunny (Paul) Cain, Bobbi (Marc) Wagner; sister-in-law Maxine Molenda; brother-in-law Gayle (Kathryn) Sacry; children, Dennis (Cara) Sacry, Susan Erickson, Carol Ann (Terry) Reiff, Jim (Nancy) Sacry, Rand (Susan) Sacry, Ken (Judy) Sacry, Kerry (Karen) Sacry, Brian (Denise) Sacry, and Diane (Pete) Joy; and numerous nieces, nephews, and lifelong friends.

A Rosary and Vigil will be held Wednesday, October 23 at 7 p.m. with a Funeral Mass on Thursday, October 24 scheduled for 10 a.m. at St. Teresa's Catholic Church in Whitehall, Montana. A reception will follow the service.

The family suggests memorials made to:

Marlene Molenda Memorial

c/o Rocky Mountain Bank

P.O. Box 599

Whitehall, MT 59759

This money will be used to provide deserving residents of Meadowlark Manor with needed items.