Marilyn Hamm
March 26, 1950 - September 23, 2024
Obituary
Marilyn K. Simek was born on March 26, 1950, in Billings, MT to Adolph and Clara Simek. She was 5 years younger than her sister Barbara Ann and they both grew up across the street from McKinley Elementary School. She attended McKinley, Lincoln Jr High, and graduated from Billings Senior High in 1968. She passed away peacefully at Morning Star Senior Living of Billings in the Radiance Memory Care Unit on September 23, 2024.
After high school, Marilyn moved to Denver, Colorado and worked for the phone company. There she re-met Bruce Hamm, and they were married on August 1, 1970. They lived and worked around Denver until July 1976, moving back to Billings to start a family. They started a family business and had two daughters.
Once in Billings, she enjoyed gardening, camping, being involved in her church, teaching, attending various exercise classes, and welcoming several exchange students into her home over the years. After raising two wonderful girls, she went to work as an aid in the pre-school at Holy Rosary School. In 1995, she joined the family business and ran the office. As the business grew, she became the President of the corporation and general manager until retiring in 2017 due to medical reasons. She turned over her position to her daughter Kendra, who with her husband Dave, still runs the business today. Bruce retired in June 2018 to take care of her for the next 6 years, with the awesome help of Lisa Herron for 1 ½ years.
Marilyn moved to Morning Star on June 15, 2023, and lived there for 18 months before passing. Bruce tried to go out and have dinner with her every day, only missing a few days a month. They still enjoyed each other's company after 54 years of marriage! The staff and other residents there were so kind and caring of her, she was always comfortable and cared for. Stillwater Hospice came in and helped care for her after she fell on July 4 and her health started to decline. They were very supportive and helpful to the family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brother-in-law Lytle “PeeWee” Warden, and brother-in-law Bob Hamm. She is survived by her husband, Bruce, sister Barb Warden, niece Michele Richard, daughter Kendra (Dave) Brooks, daughter Kim (TJ) Lawler, grandson Will Brooks, sister-in-law Gayle Sisson and boys Carlo, Dino, Sean, sister-in-law Barb (Tony) Lerma.
There will be a “Celebration of Marilyn's Life” at Dahl Funeral Chapel at 11:00 am on Wednesday October 30, 2024, with a reception to follow.
We would love to see anyone who can come!