Marlene Jean Krein

A CELEBRATION OF MARLENE'S LIFE WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2022 FROM 1-5:00 P.M. AT THE KC HALL IN DEVILS LAKE.

Marlene Jean (Barker) Krein, age 86, of Devils Lake, ND, was born in Calvin, ND, on August 13, 1935, the only child of Clifford and Audrey (Framstad) Barker. Marlene passed away on Monday, February 21, 2022 at her home in the loving care of family.  

She graduated from Sarles High School and Jamestown College with a Bachelor of Science (RN). While at Jamestown College she met her future husband, Myron Krein of Bismarck, ND. The two were married on July 23, 1956, after Myron’s return from military service in Korea. 

Marlene spent four decades of her life working for the Presentation Nuns and the Sisters of Mercy. Ironically, she never worked as a RN in a medical setting. She was a Medical-Surgical Nursing Instructor for the Presentation Nursing School in Aberdeen, SD and for St. Lukes School of Nursing in Fargo, ND. When the family lived in Minneapolis for 3 years in the early 1970s, she was hired by Gold Medallion to create an education department for ten nursing homes and continued on as the Director of Nursing at one of their nursing homes.

When she moved back to Devils Lake, she began her 30+ year career at Mercy Hospital, as the Director of Nursing. While at Mercy Hospital, Marlene served as an Assistant Administrator, Vice President of Patient Care and ultimately the President and CEO. In this capacity she served as chairman of numerous state and corporate committees.

She broke ground as the first woman in many organizations. Marlene was the first lay woman to be named the President of a hospital in the Catholic Health Corporation (CHC), the first woman to be elected President of the North Dakota Hospital Association, the first woman President of the Devils Lake Rotary Club, and the first woman President of the Devils Lake Chamber of Commerce. 

She also served her community as President of the Lake Region Skating Club, a Mercy Associate and served as an Elder in the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Devils Lake.

Marlene and Myron enjoyed traveling. Their favorite destinations were Hong Kong, England and Scotland, as well as vacations to Grand Cayman with their children and their families. 

She is survived by her husband Myron, daughters Melanie (Timothy) Remple of Hutchinson, MN, and Melissa (Craig) Haberlack of Burnsville, MN, grandchildren Zachary (Cassie) Remple of Moorhead, MN, Bryce Remple of Munich, Germany, Madison Haberlack of Burnsville, MN, Emily Haberlack of Burnsville, MN, and great-grandchildren Laila and Barrett Remple.

Visitation for Marlene will be on Wednesday, February 23, 2022 at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Funeral Services will be on Thursday, February 24^th at 10:30 a.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Devils Lake with Reverend Trudy Dumont, Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church and Reverend JoHanna Buchholz officiating.  Burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery. The service will be live-streamed at facebook.com/oursaviorslutheranchurchof devilslake.