It is with sorrow and gratitude that we mark the passing of Madonna Crist, 80, — sorrow at the loss, gratitude for the life.
The following words honor a life that mattered to many.
The story begins in 1938, with the arrival of a life that would be cherished by many.
Madonna spent her working life as ['various businesses in Sioux Falls as a legal secretary and receptionist'] and held deeply to the Catholic faith — and was, by all accounts, loved by those who knew her best.
Faith is the language some lives are written in. Madonna's was one.
Madonna Mae (Marso) Crist, 80, of Sioux Falls, SD, joined our Lord on Friday evening, September 28, 2018 at the Hospice of the Valley Lund Home in Gilbert, AZ. Visitation will occur on Thursday, October 11th, 5 – 7 pm at Heritage Funeral Home, 4800 S. Minnesota Ave, Sioux Falls, 57108 with Prayer Service/Rosary following at 7 pm. Funeral services will be held 11 AM on Friday, October 12th at St. Michael Catholic Church, 1600 S Marion Rd, Sioux Falls, SD 57106. A luncheon will follow in the church hall. Burial will take place at St. Anne's Catholic Cemetery in Humboldt, SD. Arrangements by Hofmeister Jones Funeral Home.Madonna was born on May 23, 1938 as the 6th (of 14) child of Frank & Imelda (Feller) Marso, in Marion, SD. Madonna attended all 12 years of school in Parker, SD and graduated from Parker High School in 1956. Madonna met her future husband, Marlin, while dancing at the Arkota in Sioux Falls, SD. They were married at St. Mary Catholic Church in Sioux Falls, SD on September 2, 1961. They raised their children in Sioux Falls while parishioners of St. Joseph Cathedral where their oldest children also attended school. Madonna worked in the school for many years as a teacher's aide. She later worked at various businesses in Sioux Falls as a legal secretary and receptionist. They purchased a farm in 1976 and moved to rural Humboldt, SD where their children all subsequently graduated from Parker High School as well. After the death of her husband, Madonna stayed in Humboldt, SD until October 2017 when she sold her home and moved into Sioux Falls, SD to Washington Crossing Independent Living. Most recently, Madonna was visiting her daughter Marna and her family in Chandler, AZ. Her church affiliations throughout the years also included St. Christina in Parker, SD; St. Anne in Humboldt, SD; St. George in Hartford, SD & St. Lambert in Sioux Falls, SD. Those blessed to have been part of her life on earth: son Michael (Tracy) of Allen, TX; daughter Marna Witmer of Chandler, AZ; son Monte (Lois) of Sioux Falls, SD; daughter Michele (Mark) Crist-Lemon of Carrollton, TX; grandchildren Jackson Crist, Sioux Falls, SD; Brendon (Jessica) Witmer of Boise, ID; Hayden Witmer & Delaney Witmer, Chandler, AZ. Her surviving siblings include Charlotte (Jim) Spader of Howard, SD; LaVonne Tlustos of Hanna, WY; Francis Marso of Sioux Falls, SD; Elaine Chmielewski of Becker, MN; Chuck (Junelle) Marso of Sioux Falls, SD; Mary (Al) Sullivan of Bellevue, NE; Judy (Ron) Muller of Parker, SD; Marleen Hirsch of Sioux Falls, SD; Vicky (Maury) Versteeg of Ellis, SD; Carole (Rod) Nelson of Colton, SD. Other family members include sister-in-law Janet Crist, Sioux Falls, SD; sister-in-law Donna Baumgartner of Linton, ND; and brother-in-law Wayne Nelson, Milford, DE. Madonna is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Of special note at the end of her life was the loving care that was also received from her niece Jacqueline Chmielewski of Fountain Hills, AZ. Madonna is also survived by loving nieces and nephews spread across the country. Those preceding her in death include her husband Marlin Dale Crist, son Mitchell Duane Crist, sisters Darleen Marso, Betty Friman Kick, & Teresa Hovaldt, and parents Frank & Imelda Marso.The family would like to express their extreme gratitude and appreciation to the loving care that was provided to Madonna by the Hospice of the Valley Lund Home staff in Gilbert, AZ. If you so choose, you may consider a donation in lieu of flowers to be made in Madonna's name to Hospice of the Valley (https://hov.org/donate) or to the Alzheimer's Association (https://alz.org). Madonna's children and grandchildren would also like to thank the friends and family who have been such an amazing support to each of them – we love you all.
