Marcella Oden

Marcella (Mars) Lovre Oden passed away peacefully on Friday, July 5, 2013, in Peoria, AZ at the age of 90. Mars was born on November 18, 1922 in Sacred Heart, MN to Marcus and Clara Dosseth. After graduating from high school in Sacred Heart, Mars earned her degree in elementary education from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD.  Mars took a teaching position in Toronto, SD where she met Vernon  Lovre.  Mars and Vern were married in Sacred Heart on March 17, 1946.  Together, they had three children, JoAnn, Mark and John.  The family settled in Brookings until the sudden death of Vernon in July 1963.  Four years after Vern’s passing Mars married widower Robert Oden and the family moved to Vermillion, SD. Mars was a homemaker and took great pride in caring for her family and creating a lovely home. Mars was also known to have a flare for hosting and entertaining family and friends, especially during the holiday season.  Mars was active in PEO, League of Women Voters and the Lutheran Church.  She enjoyed golfing in the summer and playing bridge in the winter.  In 1989 Bob and Mars moved to Phoenix to enjoy the warm weather, golfing, reading and relaxation.  Mars also enjoyed singing in the choir at their church, American Lutheran in Sun City, AZ.  Mars  is survived by her husband, Robert of Peoria, AZ; three children, JoAnn (Fred) Winkler  of St. Augustine, FL, Mark (Janet) Lovre of Sioux Falls, SD and John Lovre of Brookings, SD; step-children Jane (Walt)Stull of Minneapolis, MN, Rob (Theresa) Oden of Hanover, CT;  step- daughter in law Carolyn Oden of Seattle, WA; two sisters Joan (Rod) Skalbeck of Sacred Heart, MN and Corrine Kirkhart of Wichita, KS; ten grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren (who  affectionately referred to her as “Nana”) and numerous nieces and nephews. Mars was preceded in death by her parents, husband (Vern), brother (Steve), brother-in-law (Winston) and step-son (Paul). A memorial of remembrance will be held on August 17, 2013 at 11:00 A.M. at the First Lutheran Church in Brookings, SD.  Memorials may be made in Mars’s name to the First Lutheran Church in Brookings, SD.