Marlys Joyce (Olson) DeBettignies passed away peacefully at home in Humble, TX on Sunday, January 7, 2024. Marlys was born to Oscar and Anna (Arneson) Olson on May 2, 1930, in Porter Minnesota. She attended Bethal Lutheran church in Porter, MN, where she was baptized and confirmed. Marlys graduated in 1948 from Canby High School. After High School, she received her nursing degree from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter and began her nursing career at Lutheran Deaconess Hospital in Minneapolis in 1955. Marlys married Duane DeBettignies in Canby Minnesota on May 26, 1957. They were together for 48 years until his passing on December 4, 2005. Her career in nursing continued at hospitals in Canby, Laverne, and Tyler Minnesota. Marlys became the head nurse and soon after the director of nursing at A.L Vadheim Memorial Hospital (Avera) in Tyler before accepting a position with the Minnesota Department of Health in 1978. Marlys retired from her long-held career in health care in 2000. During her retirement she enjoyed family, church, traveling, and fishing on Lake Ida near Alexandria, MN. A trip to Norway in 1999 to visit family was just one of those travel highlights.

Marlys is survived by her children: Mark (Sherri) DeBettignies (Rosemount, MN), Gail DeBettignies (Humble, TX), and Steve DeBettignies (Paradise Valley, AZ). Grandchildren: Candice (Brian) Mangum, David (Erika) DeBettignies, Matthew (Jen) DeBettignies, Sarah DeBettignies, Stephanie DeBettignies, and Michael DeBettignies. Great-grandchildren: Spencer, Rianna, Gabriel, Eli, Ezra, Brayden, Madeline, Isaiah, Odin, Aiden, Abigail, Annika, and baby boy to be born end of January 2024. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Marlys was preceded in death by her husband: Duane; Parents: Oscar Olson and Anna (Olson) Christianson; Stepfather: Oscar Christianson; 5 sisters Adelia (Olson) Dybsetter, Verna (Olson) Lauritsen, Palma (Olson) Thomas, Ellen Olson, and Arleen (Olson) Christiansen; and one niece Trisha (Thomas) Case.

There will be a Celebration of Life ceremony this summer with details to be announced for family and friends wishing to attend. Interment will be at Wergland Cemetery in Porter Minnesota during that time.