Marianne Walker

Marianne Walker, age 92 of Burnsville, died on May 21, 2025. Marianne was born on April 28, 1933, to Joseph Henry “Harry” and Mary Gertrude “Mae” Nugent in Mitchell, SD. Her parents were farmers, living north of Mitchell where Marianne was raised and received her education. She had three brothers, Robert John, Charles Joseph, and Paul Edward.

Their farm was located north of Mitchell, along the James River and in comparison to farms of today, was small. They raised small grain, corn, pigs, sheep, a few cattle, chickens, and a big garden. It was in many ways a community effort, if you will. The neighboring farmers helped one another in many larger work projects. Marianne, being the only girl, helped a lot in the house, but also did a great deal of gardening, carried feed and water to the chickens, and some walking field work such as pulling cockleburs and detasseling corn. She wanted to learn to milk cows, but her dad said, “no…you have brothers for that.”

Her education began at Washington School, a “country school,” located a mile from their home, which she attended through 6th grade. She had one classmate during those six years. Upon entering the 7th grade she began school at Notre Dame, the catholic school in Mitchell taught by the Presentation Order of Nuns.

She graduated from Notre Dame in May of 1951. In June she began a three-year nursing program at St. Joseph Hospital, also a Presentation affiliation, graduating in June of 1954 as an RN, after passing the board exams.

After working two years in Mitchell, one at St. Joe’s and one at the clinic, she moved to Minneapolis with a girl friend. They both had wonderful recommendations from a doctor that they had worked with in Mitchell. They immediately went to the University of Minnesota, their future place of employment, with the written recommendations in hand, not dreaming they wouldn’t be hired. They were assured of employment, but there were some procedures they also had to follow, prior to hiring (talk about two dummies from the country :). It would be about two weeks before they could start work.

First job, they needed to find a less expensive place to live rather than the hotel they were presently at. They found a nice inexpensive weekly rental hotel and spent the two weeks getting acquainted and exploring Minneapolis. They discovered St. Olaf’s Church, where they attended Mass, also some good shopping. After they started work, Powell Hall, part of the U of M campus, became their home for a few months until apartment life began.

During the four years that Marianne worked at the U of M, she met and married her 1st husband, Wallace Arbogast. They had three children Amy Marie, Jane Elizabeth, and John Wallace. They lived in Northeast Minneapolis for five years and in 1965 purchased a home in Eagan, MN.

Marianne was proud of the nursing profession and her accomplishments in the field, but most of all she loved and took pride in being just a homemaker. She always felt she was so lucky to be able to do just that, especially when their family was small. That part of her life changed however, when in 1976, Wally died following heart surgery. She resumed her nursing career and was thankful for her education.

In 1978 Marianne married Gordon Walker and they continued to live in Eagan. They were members of Mary, Mother of the Church in Burnsville, where Marianne was a charter member.

In 1993, Marianne retired from nursing, and two years prior Gordon had retired from his job with the MN & S/Soo Line Railroad. In 1995 Marianne and Gordon sold their home in Eagan and bought a town home in Rosemount. They became members of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in 2000. In 2003 Gordon died of cancer. Prior to his death they spent several winters in Arizona.

In 2020 Marianne moved to the Rivers Retirement Community in Burnsville, where is lived the rest of her days.

Marianne was preceded in death by her first husband, Wallace Arbogast; second husband, Gordon Walker; grandsons, Michael and Josh; parents and three brothers. She is survived by her children, Amy (Curt) Schroeder, Jane (Jeff) Tobias, and John (Nancy) Arbogast; 10 stepchildren; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Memorial Mass of Christian Burial at 11am on Wed., June 11, 2025, at Mary, Mother of the Church, 3333 Cliff Rd. E., Burnsville, with visitation one hour prior. Interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Brighton Hospice.

Arrangements by Starkson Family ~ Anderson Chapel in Apple Valley.