Marilyn Haeffner

On Tuesday, December 5, 2023, Marilynn Ann Haeffner, 81, loving wife of 62 years and mother of 6, passed away at her home in Dayton, Wyoming, with loving family by her side, and immediately entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Marilynn was born in Denver, CO on November 25, 1942, to Theodore and Frances Sanford. She was the youngest of 3 children, brother Theodore Sanford and sister Alice Mazzuca. On September 9, 1961, Marilynn married Arden Dean Haeffner. Together they raised 6 children: Bradley, Nathan, Sallee, Timothy, Michele, and Ruth Ann. Arden and Marilynn lived in the wide-open spaces of Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas before finally settling at the base of the Bighorn Mountains in Dayton, Wyoming.

Marilynn is remembered most of all for three things. First, Marilynn’s strong faith in Jesus Christ as her Savior was her most admirable quality. Her undying, uncompromising hope of spending eternity with Jesus after death ultimately was what sustained her throughout her life and was what she dearly held onto as she lost her daughter, Sallee, to cancer, battled cancer twice, and dealt with numerous other health issues. Second, Marilynn was a faithful, loving, and dedicated wife, and helpmate to her husband, Arden. They spent a remarkable 62 years together, full of service to the Lord, wood-hauling, around-the-world trips to Egypt, Israel, Guatemala, and Austria, canning corn, and many cozy morning firesides drinking coffee and reading their Bibles together. Lastly, Marilynn was an exceptional, hard-working, and compassionate mother to her 6 children. She started each day rising early to pray for her children and spent many years teaching and training them to love the Lord and follow Him. For that reason, “Her children arise up and call her blessed” (Proverbs 31:28). She especially loved looking at pictures of all the memories they made together as a family.

Later in her life, Marilynn became a skilled quilter and knitting artisan. She even won a quilting contest and knitted beautiful sweaters, socks, Christmas stockings, and many grandbaby blankets right up until her passing.

Marilynn is preceded in death by her parents, Theodore and Frances, her brother Theodore, and her daughter Sallee (Montie). She is survived by her sister, Alice, her husband, Arden, her 5 children, Bradley (Kathy) of MO, Nathan (Christa) of WA, Timothy (Amanda) of TN, Michele (Mike) of WY, Ruth Ann (Nate) of Guatemala, her 22 grandchildren (Jordan (Samantha), Kaleb (Ashley); Logan; Adeline (Keith), Madison (Vin), Gabriel, Esther, Solomon, Samson; Tristan, Kayce; Juneau, Ezra, Amelia; Silas, Shiloh, Eden, Eve, Simon, Shadrach, Susannah, Ishah, and grandbaby on-the-way), and her 7 great-grandchildren (London, Ozzy, Zion, Yovel, Selah, Lucy, and Jane).

Marilynn’s celebration of life will be held on Friday, December 15, 2023, at 1 pm at Dayton Community Church, 310 Bridge St, Dayton, WY. In place of flowers, donations in Marilynn’s honor may be sent to the Legacy Pregnancy Center in Sheridan, WY or the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.

Online condolences may be written at www.kanefuneral.com. Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.