Marilyn Chakos
July 05, 1936 - July 20, 2024
Obituary
“Remember me with smiles and laughter for that is how I shall remember you all” – Laura Ingalls Wilder
Our Mom, Marilyn Ann Dieveney Chakos, 88, passed away peacefully on July 20, 2024, after a long battle with dementia. She was surrounded by her loving family and the outstanding caregivers at Westpark Village in Billings, Montana.
Born July 5, 1936, in St. Paul, Minnesota to Frank Joseph and Helen Peltier Dieveney. Mom attended St. Marks Grade School, Visitation High School and later, Eastern Montana College, majoring in Psychology and Fine Arts; graduating in 1983.
In 1956, she wed Eugene C. Thornquist in St. Paul, MN; there they welcomed their first five children: David, Christopher (Kyle), Gregory, Mary Francis (Marlo), and Eugene (Laura). In 1963 they moved to Billings, Montana where they added three more children to the family: Carolyn, Patrick (Valerie), and Amy (Shane). They remained in Billings, creating a beautiful life together for the next 32 years until Gene's passing in 1988.
While getting her college degree and serving as a member of the Junior League, she was appointed by the League to study child abuse in Billings. During her time at Eastern Montana College, she volunteered at the Gateway House, a safe house for victims of domestic violence. Shortly after her graduation, Marilyn and a colleague organized the Billings Council of the NCPCA (National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse), known locally as, “The Family Tree Center”. She became the director of the center with duties creating and overseeing numerous community support and education programs, including; “Community Caring”, “Parent Share” and “Second Step”, that provided a resource library and personal safety education aimed at protecting children from abuse and educating parents. An avid volunteer, Marilyn was passionate about and well-known for her support and organization of the “Festival of Trees”, an annual Christmas fundraiser.
In 1991, she married Tom Chakos, with whom she shared a mutual love for travel with family and playing golf. She welcomed into the family Tom's three sons, Chris, David (Carye) and Todd (Carolyn). Fourteen years after their marriage Tom was disabled by a stroke, confining him to a wheelchair and having to spend his remaining years at Aspen Meadows until his passing in 2023.
Marilyn is survived by her sister Carolyn, brothers Thomas (Linda) and Frank (Kathy), her 8 children, fourteen grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren.
The funeral service will be held at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at 10:00 am. All are welcome. A Vigil service will be the night before at Dahl Funeral Home.
Please send memorials to the Alzheimer's association, at the link below:
https://act.alz.org/site/Donation2?df_id=51079&51079.donation=form1&mfc_pref=T&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_campaign=giving_google&s_subsrc=giving_google&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwko21BhAPEiwAwfaQCCnaYVH7wi8xRkL_cqxUvI6h6JlOqt_MZikR29BZnLBKLIpooOG-xxoC1mUQAvD_BwE