Obituary: Marcia Joy Malsam

Marcia Joy Malsam, 85, passed away Friday, Dec. 23, 2016, at her home in Havre of natural causes.

Her prayer vigil service will be 7 p.m., today, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016, with her memorial Mass at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016, all at St. Jude Catholic Church with Father Daniel Wathen officiating. Her burial will follow at the Cottonwood Cemetery north of Havre at 2:30 p.m.

Memorials in Marcia's honor may be made to St. Jude School.

Please visit our website and leave a message of condolence for the family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.

Marcia was born July 25, 1931, in Rothsay, Minnesota, to Joseph and Eva (Mapes) Cech. When she was just an infant her family moved out west to Havre, Montana. Marcia was the eldest of four siblings, all girls. Being the eldest came with many responsibilities of helping to raise the younger sisters and helping in the home. Marcia spent her younger years babysitting for many people in Havre.

Marcia met Anthony Malsam on a blind date at a dance. Two years later they were married on June 22, 1950, in Havre at the St. Jude Catholic Church. The first year of their marriage they lived in Havre, where Marcia worked as a cashier at the Buttrey store. Then they moved to the Malsam farm north of Havre. The farm way of life was a challenging change for this young city girl. It did not take her long to adapt as she would cook wonderful meals to take out to the field for harvest and her home was always spotless.

They raised six children on that farm. Marcia prided herself on her strong Catholic faith and her family. She truly loved her family. They were the most important people in her life. You could often find Marcia reading to a grandchild or great-grandchild, something they both loved. Through all the hardships and joys, after 66 years of marriage, you could still feel the love between Marcia and Tony.

Marcia was very active in the North Havre community. She and Tony helped to care for the St. John's Church and she worked at the Cottonwood school wearing many hats, such as a clerk, janitor, principal and teacher. She was a member of the Home Demonstration Club and also the Catholic Daughters. She enjoyed collecting salt and pepper shakers, bowling, baking, especially her bread and cinnamon rolls that everyone loved, reading, gardening, camping and playing cards.

She was preceded in death by her parents; Joseph and Eva Cech; her cherished in-laws, Anthony and Francis Malsam; an infant daughter and infant son Joseph; her son in-law Cliff Solomon; her grandson Jeremy Solomon and her brother-in-law Michael Belcourt.

Marcia is survived by her husband of 66 years, Anthony "Tony" Malsam of Havre; her children, Russell (Valeri) Malsam, Cindy (Ken) Smith, Corinne (Russell) DeVries, Jamie (Lisa) Malsam, all of Havre, Susan (Scott) Patrick of Helena and Toni-Jo (Greg) Riggin of Great Falls. She is also survived by her sisters, Barbara (George) Nielsen of Spokane, Karen (Dick) Reich of Carson City, Nevada, and Kathryn Belcourt of Havre; 12 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren (with one more expected in January); several nieces and nephews; and many good friends.