On Friday, July 22, 2022 Marilyn Gay Nordlum passed away at her home in International Falls, Minnesota. The same house she grew up in and loved.
Marilyn was born on December 27, 1948 at Falls Memorial Hospital to Lester and Lillian Nordlum. Being the youngest of four turned her into the little spitfire and prankster we all came to know and love.
In high school she was a majorette and graduated from Falls High School in 1967. After high school she spent a year out in California and came home to Minnesota to marry Lance Hardwig in 1969. They welcomed their two daughters, Amy Hardwig in 1973 and Amber Hardwig in 1975. After a childhood of making her older sisters, Janet and Betty do all the dishes and chores, she needed two kids to do the same in her adulthood.
While raising her daughters, she worked at Falls High School as a secretary a.k.a. “The Narc”. Known for busting the kids smoking in the bathroom, by standing on toilet seats to catch them by surprise. Which is very ironic considering her lifelong commitment to the tobacco industry. We all thought she’d live to be 100, just to prove to us that “smoking isn’t bad for you”.
Some of her biggest joys in life, were the simple pleasures. A cigarette and a hot cup of coffee, or sitting outside in a lawn chair with a cold Milwaukee’s Best Light.
After her marriage to William “Bill” McEvoy, she became a stepmom to four kids. They spent many summers out at the “Fisheries Resort” enjoying life.
Marilyn was also known for her ability to take her creative home projects and recipe ideas and put them together with duct tape, zip ties and a lot of resourcefulness. In 2004 she used that tenacity and fortitude to open Jem Realty with her daughter Amy, which they ran for about a decade.
Marilyn was also a grandma to many grandkids who loved their “Nana”. She loved being a grandma with her infamous treat drawer and matching pajamas on Christmas.
Marilyn is preceded in death by her parents, Lester Nordlum and Lillian (Jackson) Nordlum.
She is survived by her brother, Roger Nordlum (Scoots); her sisters, Janet Schulz and Betty Gerlach (Bob); her son, David Rankin; her daughters, Amy Hardwig and Amber Hardwig; her grandkids, Elizabeth Thayer, Charlie (Hardwig) James, Lani Hardwig, Ryan Hardwig, Simon Olson and Nash Olson; her great-grandkids, Genevieve Thayer, and Cordelia Thayer; many nieces and nephews; and her dog Reggie.
She would want to be remembered by her witchy ways and her “Nordlum” cackle that could be heard across a room. We loved her very much and will miss her dearly.
A memorial service will be announced at a later date.
Condolences may be left at www.greenlarsen.com
Arrangements are with Green-Larsen Mortuary, Inc.
