Marie Zimmer

Marie Doman was born on November 1, 1924, at home on a farm east of Kramer, ND, the oldest of eight children to Fred & Emma (Gienger) Doman.  She passed away peacefully on March 19, 2023, at Serenity Assisted Living in Dilworth, MN, under the care of Serenity staff and Hospice of the RRV.

Marie attended one room country school in rural Kramer through the eighth grade and graduated from Kramer High School. She attended one semester of college at Minot State College, Minot, ND.  She then worked at a drug store and hardware store in Bottineau where she met Urban (Zim) Zimmer.  They were married on December 4, 1943, in St. John’s Catholic Church at Wahpeton, ND, and lived a short time at Willmar, MN, before moving to Grand Forks, ND, where her husband was a telegrapher with the Great Northern Railway.  Marie worked for the GN Railroad for four years as a file clerk until Zim took a depot agent job at Munich and later York, ND. Marie was a homemaker and later worked occasionally at the York Café and also Patterson’s Grocery in Leeds. They moved to Rugby in 1971 after he retired from the railroad. She then worked at Johnson Stores and the Johnson Clinic in Rugby until her retirement.  She enjoyed gardening, sewing, crocheting, and reading; and was active in her church and was a member of Christian Mothers and the Burlington Northern Veterans Association.  They had two daughters, Barbara and Mary.  Marie moved to Serenity Living in Dilworth, MN, in 2016 to be closer to her daughter Mary. While at Serenity, she was involved with the bell choir.

Marie is survived by her daughter Mary (William) Johnson of Hawley, MN.  Also surviving are grandchildren Lisa VanDyken, Eric (Kim) VanDyken, Bret (Katie) VanDyken, and Lori VanDyken; Shireen (Harley) Regier, Sheridan Johnson (Aimee Miles), step-grandchildren, Mark (Marilyn) Zimmer, Judy (Don) Baker, Jane Zimmer, Anne (Kevin) Frakes, and Sarah (Norm) Gillen. She is also survived by five great-grandsons (Isaac Regier, E.J. VanDyken, Kolden Johnson, Brady & Lincoln Miles) and four great-granddaughters (Kayla VanDyken, Emma Johnson, Skylar & Harper VanDyken), as well as one step-great-granddaughter (Emily Gillen).  Also surviving are siblings Helen Burfiend, Harvey (Lynette) Doman, Marge (Harrell) DeFries, Connie (Aldon) Milbrath, and Walter (Annette) Doman; sister-in-law Eunice Doman, and several nieces and nephews, and cousins.  Preceding her in death are her husband Urban, daughter and son-in-law Barbara and Robert VanDyken, a great-grandson Caleb VanDyken; a step-son Maurice (Iris) Zimmer; brothers Ivan (Connie) Doman, Richard Doman; brother-in-law Lloyd Burfiend. 

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the great staff at Serenity for the wonderful care they have given Mom and also to Hospice of the RRV.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Serenity or to Hospice of the RRV.

Memorial Service: Saturday, March 25, 2023, at 11 AM, West Funeral Home Chapel, West Fargo, ND, with visitation one hour before the service.

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