Marilyn (Dahl) Whitney

Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Community of Christ Church in Sloan, with Dr. Emery Killian officiating. A luncheon will begin at noon Saturday at Community Church of Christ. Private family burial will be in Sloan Cemetery, rural Sloan. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Waterbury Funeral Service in Sergeant Bluff. Arrangements are under the direction of Rush Family Care Service in Onawa, Iowa. Condolences may be left online for the family at www.rushfamilycareservice.com.

Marilyn Ruth was born on July 16, 1940, the daughter of Carl Otis and Viola Mae (Hicks) Dahl. She married Richard L. "Dick" Whitney on July 16, 1957. They achieved 60 years, five months, and 26 days together and relocated from Dickinson County back to Woodbury County in December 2017, moving to Bickford Cottage in Sioux City.

Throughout her life, Marilyn was a strong advocate for M.A.D.D. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving). She was also active in the Iowa Federation of Women's Clubs in the 1980s and early 1990s. She and Dick attended many 900 Club presentations at numerous high schools in the Northwest Iowa area, and they enjoyed traveling nationwide, across borders, and into Europe. Throughout their travels, they always rotated around Okoboji, Iowa, from their honeymoon to family vacations, which is why they ultimately located to the Lakes Region in 2008.

Marilyn overcame her anger with God to accept Jesus as her Savior, assisted by the guidance of her son, Nick, and chaplain at UnityPoint Health, Elias, and expressed affectionate loving tenderness toward her grandchildren, children, and husband, along with anxiety to join those who have preceded her in death; her daughter, Kim; her mother, Viola; her father, Carl with Gaynell; grandma, Mae; and listing numerous cousins by name who were awaiting her.

Survivors include her husband, Richard "Dick" L. Whitney; and their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, a son and his family, Nick L. and Rebecca A. Whitney, Eric and Erin Whitney, Garrett, Griffin, Savannah, Hillary Whitney, Valerie Whitney, Ashley Whitney; a daughter and her family, Dianne K. and Neil Gonnermann including (stepgranchildren), Matthew and Dawn Struble, Madison, Lucas, Denise and Jason Petersen, Dawson, Peyton, Tiffany and Matthew Prince, Brynn, Emersyn, Brad and Meaghan Gonnermann, Josephine, Charlotte; a daughter and her family, GayLene and Allen Krentz including (stepgrandchildren), Natasha J. Krentz, Grant and Cathleen Whitney-Krentz, Angelize, Zeydin, Alexsis, Abrianna, Felyciti, Deklyn, Andrew and Araceli Dahl-Krentz, Lyanna, Donnette and Justin Smith, Paul, Brian, Desiree and Jon Schultz, Searra, Hunter, Zeke; honorary grandchildren, Shawn and Amber Milbrodt, Maximus, Jaxin, and Addison.

Pallbearers will be chosen from grandchildren and great-grandchildren in attendance.

Honorable mention and great appreciation to brother and sister-in-law, Robert "Bob" and Jeanne Whitney; nieces and nephews-in-law, Ann and Tom Kingery and children, John and Veronica Whitney-Gomez and children, Clair and Stephen Martinsen and children.

Please help us express our sincere appreciation by donating to elder awareness organizations and shelters, food banks, adult protective services, in-home caregivers, Meals On Wheels, EMT first responders, mobile nurses, chaplains, and volunteers in your local area.