Marilyn Bjorkman Noyes Waite

Marilyn Bjorkman Noyes Waite, age 89, peacefully passed away wrapped in the love of her family in Provo, Utah on October 22, 2023.

Marilyn was born to Eveline Jane Brough and Arthur Edmund Bjorkman in Daniels, Utah on July 30, 1934.  The family moved to Bountiful, Utah where Marilyn attended Davis High School, then applied for and was awarded the prestigious Ford National Merit Scholarship to attend university, and created a group of lifelong friends with others who shared this award – the “Ford Girls”.

Marilyn received her Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics Education from the University of Utah.  Her parents insisted that she finish her degree before she married Hal Freeman Noyes, the returning serviceman who had won her heart when she was just 15 years old. She married Hal on December 17, 1954, in the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and graduated from University of Utah at the end of the following semester.  She took the bus from Salt Lake City to Idaho each weekend to be with Hal during her last semester. 

Marilyn and Hal moved to Idaho (Heyburn and Declo area) where they lived a joyous and blessed life, welcoming three sons into their family – Dallas (1956), Harold (1957) and Jeffery (1960) while Hal managed the farms and taught his sons to love the land and the animals and to honor the teachings of the Church.  These were years of great joy for Marilyn.  

Hal, the love of Marilyn’s life, died March 20, 1962.  Marilyn, with great love and courage picked up the pieces and built a strong loving home for her three sons, who all grew to be fine extraordinary men.  During these years after Hal’s death, Marilyn used her first degree to teach school to support her sons. She then completed a Master of Science degree in Home Management and Family Economics from Utah State University (1972) followed by a Ph.D. degree from Colorado State University (­­­­1982). 

Her professional career spanned thirty-seven years.  She taught in the public schools of Utah and Idaho for seventeen years, followed by ten years of service as an Extension Family Resource Management Specialist.  She was the Associate Dean for the College of Family Life at Utah State University for twelve years.  She has been lauded by members of the Utah State Legislature as a role model for women and as a dedicated extension professional who was highly respected for her expertise, integrity, and positive attitudes.  Marilyn retired from Utah State University (1996) to spend time with her children, her grandchildren and to continue her world travels with her beloved sisters – Gwen Shepherd and Carri Przekurat.

Marilyn and her sisters traveled the world together and always found great joy in one another’s company.  They shared in the building of the famous cabin on Fremont Lake, in Pinedale, Wyoming.  This cabin was the home and heart anchor for so many family memories for the Bjorkman sisters and their extended families.  Each grandchild has special memories of their time there with Marilyn.

Marilyn’s life was blessed again in 1997 when she was courted by Jean Hyde Waite.  She had never remarried after Hal’s passing thirty-five years earlier.  Marilyn and Jean were married on November 8, 1997, in the Logan, Utah Temple.  Soon after they wed, they served a Church Education mission together in New Haven, CT, thoroughly enjoying each other and the community they served.  Following Jean’s death on April 13, 2013, Marilyn continued to be immersed in her family and to travel with her sisters, being a strength and source of wisdom and love for her community. Family always came first with Marilyn.

Marilyn was preceded in death by the love of her life, Hal Freeman Noyes, her son Dallas B Noyes, her beloved second husband Jean Hyde Waite, her sister Gwendolyn Bjorkman Shepherd and five siblings: Leola, Doris, George, Hal and Keith. 

Marilyn is survived by her sister Carolyn (Przekurat); children GayWyn Quance (daughter-in-law), Harold B Noyes (Jacalyn Boehme), Jeffery B Noyes (Kirsten Fabricius); grandchildren: Christine Victoria Noyes Williams (Christopher Williams), Matthew Freeman Noyes, TawnaLyn Noyes Mangelson (Kevin Mangelson), Clayton Robert Noyes (Krista LaRae Whatcott), Kelton Fabricius Noyes, Kira Noyes Baldwin (Rick Simon Baldwin), Cordell Rodney Noyes (Larisa Dorthey Cox); and great grandchildren: Victoria Rosalyn Williams, Harrison Bryant Mangelson, Jacalyn Carol Mangelson, Josiah Peter Mangelson, Christianne Marie Mangelson, Adeline Stacy Noyes, Daxton Liam Noyes, Thea Arabelle Noyes, Gerrit Christian Baldwin, Kallie Lanee Sorensen, Klausin Gerrett Sorensen, Kegan Jeffery Noyes, Kya Lyn Noyes

Funeral Services for Marilyn will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Saturday, November 11, 2023, in the Davis Creek 2^nd Ward building, 1395 South 200 East, Farmington, Utah.  A viewing will be held prior to services at the same location from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.  Interment will be at the Declo Cemetery, Declo ID following the service. 

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Brothers Mortuary Facebook page and on this obituary page.  The live stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.

In lieu of flowers, please enjoy time with your loved ones, maybe take them on a date, in honor of how much Marilyn treasured her times with family and friends.