Marion Baxter

Marion Janette Baxter, daughter of Ingvold and Augusta Bustad, born on November 10, 1929 in Austin, Minnesota, died at the age of 94 on Sunday, April 7, 2024 at Red Cedar Canyon Memory Care Facility. Marion grew up in Austin with her seven siblings, worked in the family vegetable garden, and enjoyed time at the creek and childhood shenanigans. She graduated from Austin High School in 1948 and married Richard “Dick” Baxter at St. Olaf Lutheran Church on February 19, 1949. Marion was known to some as “Tootsie” (due to a love of Tootsie Rolls) and others as “Toody.”

Throughout her life, she worked at a restaurant and candy shop as a teen, then Hormel, and in later years for Bustad’s Crane and Excavating. Marion also helped plan and design two houses filled with creative style and salvaged antiques like stained glass windows and chandeliers. After her husband’s death, she left Austin, settling in River Falls, to be closer to her family.

Marion enjoyed traveling with her sisters, camping with her young family, square dancing, needle work, quilting, sewing, gardening, and shopping, as well as being an avid collector of plates, dolls, antiques, and Boyd’s Bears. She treasured family gatherings and loved playing games and doing puzzles with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Throughout the years, Marion attended card club, birthday club, and movies at the outdoor theater. She also valued passing down her Norwegian heritage to her family, teaching future generations how to make Rosettes, Lefse, and Krumkake. Marion knew Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior, always sharing that love with family and friends. She enjoyed her daily earthly relationship with the Lord, and now is in his presence.

Marion was preceded in death by parents, Ingvold and Augusta Bustad; husband, Richard “Dick” Baxter; brothers, Kenneth, Edward, Wally Bustad; sisters, Violet Huckabay, Evelyn Beckel; and son-in-law, James Grothe. She is survived by son, Terrance (Sandy) Baxter; daughters, Colette Grothe and Jolee (Rick) Siedschlag; 10 grandchildren, Breanna and Beau Baxter, Malinda (David) Niswonger, Nathan Grothe, Jessica Canna (Josh), Macie O’Shaughnessy (Pat), Justin Siedschlag (Jes), Tyler (Natalie) Siedschlag, Rissa Walther, and Rikki (Andrew) Pullen; and 24 great-grandchildren, Jo, Jarod, Jesse, James, Casey, Mason, Caylee, Savanna, Caden, Erika, Dayna, Santiago, Maximo, Axl, MaKayla, Mason, Rory, Vivian, Alice, Ruby, Evie, Cora, Harper, Luella; sister, Deanna Schewe; brother, Arnold Bustad; and many nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 4 pm at Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services 805 E Division Street River Falls, WI. Visitation will also be on Thursday, April 18, 2024 from 3-4 pm at the funeral home. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Austin, MN on Friday, April 19, 2024 at 1:30 pm. Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.