Our beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, Vanee Carol Tollefson, 84, passed from her earthly garden to God’s eternal paradise on April 16, 2022, at Benefis Peace Hospice after valiantly battling cancer. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Great Falls to celebrate her life.

Vanee was born to Ben and Dolly Vasichek in Malta on May 17, 1937. Their family later settled in Shelby where she graduated from Shelby High School in 1955. She enjoyed playing the piano, baton twirling in the color guard, and cruising around town while growing up with her sister Karen. Vanee attended MSU Northern in Havre where she earned her legal secretary degree.

She and a close friend ventured to Seattle for big city life after graduation. While a secretary with the University of Washington she met and soon married David Tollefson from Tacoma, WA. After David graduated in electrical engineering, Vanee and David moved to California where they both worked for North American Aviation during the exciting Apollo space mission days.

Vanee’s two oldest children, Scott and Leslie, were born in Anaheim, CA. Shortly thereafter, Dave died from a tragic illness in late 1967. Vanee diligently cared for David at home through his illness to support his passing in peace. After David’s death, Vanee moved her two children to the Huntington Beach area where she worked for McDonald Douglas. She married again whereafter her youngest daughter Stephanie was born before the relationship ended.

Vanee returned to Montana in 1974 to raise her three children in Great Falls. She continued her secretarial work to provide them with strong educations and a variety of extracurricular activities. Although Vanee had limited time to continue her interests while caring for her children, she did meet her partner for life, Marvin Marxer, during a community dance. She would often be heard saying they continued dancing their life together for over 30 years! Marvin became like a father to her children and the couple spent their remaining years traveling to their children’s and grandchildren’s activities across the country. Vanee also traveled routinely to Shelby during these years to care for her aging parents.

Vanee was an accomplished painter, regular bridge player, and active member of St. John Lutheran Church. Her greatest joy in life was taking care of her children, grandchildren, and other loved ones. She will be remembered as a faithful, resourceful, and steadfast servant of God whose relentless compassion for others and zest for life enabled her to overcome many challenges and be an inspiration for her children, grandchildren, relatives, and friends.

Vanee is survived by her sister, Karen Menconi; children, Scott Tollefson, Leslie Scariano, and Stephanie Tollefson; and grandchildren, Christian, Savannah, and Kavanaugh Tollefson, Gabrielle and Justin Scariano. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ben and Dolly Vasichek; husband, David Tollefson; and life partner, Marvin Marxer.

The family welcomes memorial donations be made to the Women’s Shelter at the Great Falls Rescue Mission in lieu of flowers to support Vanee’s commitment to this important mission.