Marion Lucille Klein, 97, passed away on May 12, 2025 at Kenwood View Health and Rehabilitation Center in Salina KS.

Marion L. Olberding Klein was preceded in death by her parents, and husband Henry G. Klein, brothers Vernon Olberding, Johnny Olberding and step brothers Clem Olberding, Paul Olberding and a step-sister, Monica Olberding Spitsnogle. She is survived by her children, Ronald Eugene Klein (Roylene) and Annette Lucille Klein; two grandchildren Karen Klein and Roger Allen Klein (Brooke) and two great grandchildren, Owen Eli Klein and Elsie Marie Klein.

Marion was born in Colorado Springs, CO on September 11, 1927 to parents Hulda Olberding and John Olberding.

While she was growing up on the farm her father taught her about nature including different types of clouds and storms and about the animals they had on the farm as well as the wild animals living nearby. She always enjoyed watching the birds, squirrels and every creature that wandered through their yard. She was especially fond of dogs and owned one most of her life.

Marion recounted that her mom was an excellent cook and was especially good at making pie crusts. She probably used lard. At one time during the Great Depression, her mom, Hulda, experimented with making a meat pie using blackbirds. Marion said, “It wasn’t very good”. Apparently “Four and twenty blackbirds” is good for the children’s nursery rhyme but not for real-life eating. That experiment was never repeated.

After high school, she came to Salina to attend Brown Mackie College where she learned her bookkeeping skills. She met Henry Klein and they were married on September 21, 1947. She was 20 years old. The picture inside the folder shows them on their wedding day. Another colorized picture was taken professionally for use in a photographer’s advertising. Her picture appeared on billboards.

Marion worked for an insurance company as a secretary for 5 years. Then, when the kids were old enough, she worked for Sherwin Williams as a bookkeeper and sales person for 7 years. She was an office manager at Vernon Jewelers for 15 years and retired from there.

Marion was a creative and talented lady. She arranged silk flowers as a hobby and sold her creations at area craft shows for several years.

Ron remembers that she made elaborate birthday cakes for him and Annette as young children for many years. Annette had one with a circus theme. Annette was too young to remember it, but it must have been something to see.

She was a good seamstress and made her own clothes for many years and then made clothes for Annette. Annette remembers one dress in particular that had a large applique of a lion. She called it her “Lion Dress” and it was one of her all-time favorites.

Marion also made custom Halloween costumes. Ron fondly remembers a full body, grey wolf costume with a long tail. That tail was pulled mercilessly by the kids at school.

Marion made the wedding attendants dresses for Ron and Roylene’s wedding as well as the coordinating dresses for herself and Roylene’s mom.

One Christmas she made matching pajamas for her grandkids. Then, using the same fabric, made pajamas for new Teddy Bears for each of them. They have long out grown the pajamas but they still have the teddy bears wearing their Christmas pajamas.

Marion pieced and quilted Christmas tree skirts for Ron and Roylene one year. She made one for the artificial tree and one for the real tree stand because no one knew which type of tree would be used in any given year.

Karen remembers how she and Roger had their Big Wheels that they only got to ride while in Salina, and Grandma would take them for walks to Dairy Queen for ice cream while they would ride the Big Wheels. They were 100% plastic and the sidewalks were incredibly uneven, but who cared because they were on their own Big Wheels on a walk with Grandma.

Roger said that he and Grandma got to do many things together. He always enjoyed his week that he had with Grandma each summer while growing up. She invariably gave him her undivided attention and let him eat as many sandwiches and rolls as he could! Roger was particularly fond of ice cream and luckily, she lived close to Dairy Queen so they could go for a walk and get an ice cream cone once a day.

One of Roger’s favorite activities was to construct buildings and houses up on the kitchen table making a city. They even had money that they could exchange for different services like going to the grocery store, the auto shop, tolls for using the roads that Roger built, and even parking their toy cars in the wrong spot and having them get towed away. Grandma always spent as much time as she could playing games with him whenever he got to visit. Grandma had a piano that Roger was able to play. Grandma enjoyed listening as much as Roger enjoyed playing music for her. Roger said he will always remember the special times he spent with Grandma. They are wonderful memories that will never be forgotten.

Graveside Services will be Monday, May 19, 2025 at 11:00 AM with Sr. Pastor Blaine Herron officiating in the Roselawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park in Salina, KS. Memorials may be sent to Salina Animal Services, 329 N. 2nd St. Salina, KS 67401.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Roselawn Burial and Cremation Services. Online condolences can be sent to www.roselawnsalina.com.