Marlene Marie Hastings

Marlene Marie Middleton Hastings, 83, of Crookston, MN, passed away at her home on Sunday, November 17, 2024, with her loving family at her side. 

Marlene was born June 28, 1941, in Cavalier, ND. She was the daughter of Durward “Mike” and Florence “Evelyn” (Leathers) Middleton. Her early years were spent with her brothers Don and Doug. Don took care of Marlene until she “got her voice” then he started listening to her. They lived in St. Vincent, MN; Emerado, ND; and Larimore, ND. She was active in the Bear Facts newspaper, German band/sextet, choir, FHA (Future Homemakers of America) serving as historian, secretary, reporter and librarian. This is where she met the love of her life, Lloyd (Butch) Hastings, who was also a friend and teammate with her brother Doug. Butch was two years older and joined the US Marines while waiting for her to graduate high school in May 1959. They were married at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Larimore, ND on January 9, 1960. 

The couple made their first home in Grand Forks, ND, where she worked for the North Dakota Mill. In 1961 they moved to Larimore for a year, then to Mayville, ND. In 1963, Butch and Marlene moved to Eugene, OR, where she worked for the Eugene Fruit Growers. They returned to the area in 1973 and settled in Crookston, which has remained their home. 

Butch and Marlene together began working for the Strata Corporation where she worked as a business manager for 34 years. She loved “all of the men” that she worked with – enjoying their jabs (that she would give right back to them), jokes and participating in their football pools. She enjoyed those days of working side by side with Butch where they were inseparable and remained best friends through their lives. She was a member of the Women of the ELCA (WELCA) at Trinity Lutheran, Eagles Auxiliary and Crookston High School Pirate Booster Club. 

Butch and Marlene were proud parents of Sandra Marie and Michael Eugene. Marlene was grateful to have her daughter Sandy and her family in Crookston so they could keep up with the activities and sports of granddaughters, Shelby, and Courtney. Marlene enjoyed watching Mike play hockey at the high school and college level, often packing up the car on Thursdays so Friday morning they could hit the road to St. Cloud. When Mike got into coaching, they would often travel to Omaha, Minneapolis and Mankato to watch his teams play. They would also make special trips to see Mike’s kids, Hannah and Hudson play sports. They were there to see Hannah’s Mankato West High School team win the State Softball Tournament in 2016, where Hannah was a catcher like Butch; and see Hudson play basketball, baseball, and run track. Even after Butch passed in 2018, she would take trips to Florida to cheer on Hannah’s Minnesota State University softball team. In 2018, she and her sister-in-law Joyce traveled to Vancouver, Canada to cheer on Team US World Juniors that Mike coached to a silver medal. Marlene and Joyce were the “Sweet American Gramas” often being shown on the big screen during the games while wearing matching red, white and blue scarves waving their little American flags.

Marlene always put her family and others first. She was selfless in this way. She would help her friends with whatever they needed by doing grocery shopping, taking them to different medical appointments and visiting regularly. She enjoyed the company of her neighbors, her time with all the ladies spent at the swimming pool and the lady luncheons. She would go out of her way to make every holiday special for her grandkids by doing an indoor scavenger hunt that they always looked forward to. 

Loving family members include daughter Sandy (Ryan) Lindtwed of Crookston, MN; son Mike (Jean Ann) Hastings of Madison, WI; four grandchildren Shelby and Courtney Lindtwed of Fargo, ND; Hannah Hastings of Elysian, MN and Hudson Hastings of Boston, MA. Marlene leaves a brother Doug Allan Middleton of Roseburg, OR; sister-in-law Jean Middleton of Grand Forks, ND; former sister-in-law Shirley Middleton of Roseburg, OR; brother-in-law Kenneth Post of Frazee, MN; as well as several nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Durward (Mike) and Florence (Evelyn) Middleton; brother Don Middleton of Grand Forks, ND; the love of her life, Butch.

May the memories of Marlene Hastings be treasured forever. 

In honor of Marlene Hastings the family suggests memorial contributions be sent to Crookston Blue Line Club P.O. Box 286 Crookston, MN 56716 (In memo Marlene Hastings Memorial), Hospice of the Red River Valley, Crookston Trinity Lutheran Church.