Marilyn Jean (Amundson) Sears died unexpectedly, from complications after recent surgery,  on Jan. 11, 2022, at St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester, Minn. She was 76 years old. Marilyn was born in Decorah, Iowa, the daughter of Alan and Hazel (Milbrath) Amundson ‘39.

Marilyn graduated from Decorah High School, Class of 1963. She attended Luther College for a year and in the summer of 1964 lived in Colorado with her sister and worked at the University of Northern Colorado at Greely. She then moved to Rochester, Minn., for a job at the Mayo Clinic.

She married William Sears and together they raised three children, Angela, Craig and Jim. They celebrated 53 years of marriage in Aug. 2021.

After being a stay-at-home mom until her children were in high school, Marilyn worked as a sales associate at Richard N's Shoe Store, Apache Mall, Rochester, and later at the Carson Pirie Scott department store at Miracle Mile, Rochester. Soon after the birth of her first grandchild she stayed home to provide daycare for her grandchildren. She cherished watching her children and grandchildren participate in sports, concerts, recitals and other activities.

Marilyn loved to travel. She treasured her vacations in Branson, Mo. She loved live music shows, Craft Malls and the Ozark Mountains. Her passion was hosting family gatherings especially at Christmas. She also enjoyed gardening and home decorating. Marilyn dearly loved the seven dogs she cared for over a period of 40 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents. Surviving in addition to her husband, are her daughter Angela (Sears) Spohn ’93, and her husband, Al Spohn of Rochester; sons, Craig Sears ‘96 and his wife Amy (Morse) Sears ‘95, of Rochester, Jim and his partner Jessica Rivard of Eagan, Minn.; six grandchildren, Ava Spohn, Abby Spohn, Andrew Spohn, Payton Sears, Torrey Sears and Sophia Sears; one sister, Dori (Amundson) Ritland ’62 and her husband Mike Ritland ‘60 of Eau Claire, Wis.; one brother, Richard Amundson ’64 and his wife Barbara “Babs” (Moen) Amundson ‘65 of Decorah, Iowa; many nieces and nephews.

Visitation and memorial service were held Jan. 29, 2022, at the Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes.

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Sears family; to share a special memory or condolence please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com.