To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.
Obituary
With deep sadness, we announce the passing of Marlene Jane (Boldt) Raiche, who was born on June 23, 1935 and passed away on Tuesday, June 6, 2026 in Edina, MN.
Marlene was born to Nick and Marie (Klassen) Boldt. Marlene grew up with her brothers, Dennis and Leo in Mountain Lake and Delft, Minnesota. She passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving family, at the age of 91.
Marlene often marveled at how carefree and happy her life in Delft had been. Delft was a small community of just 75 to 100 people. Her family lived in a home without indoor plumbing. The outhouse seldom had toilet paper; instead, they used pages from Sears Roebuck catalogs and the soft wrappings from crates of fruit that her mother canned during the summer months.
Though they lived simply, they never went hungry. Her parents planted a large garden and raised chickens, ducks, a few sheep, and three pigs. Vegetables were canned, and many varieties of fruit were turned into jams and jellies. Marlene’s father would say that her mother was the best cook and baker in the county, and all would agree.
Her parents worked like two well-oiled machines, seldom complaining about the hard work required to stretch the $40 a month her father earned at the grain elevator.
Marlene graduated from Mountain Lake High School and was the first in her family to attend college. She attended Mankato State Teachers College, where she earned a degree in Elementary Education, and later earned a Bachelor of Science from Mankato State University.
While attending Mankato State, Marlene met her first husband, Waldo Asp. She had an adventurous spirit and once took a train by herself to Yellowstone National Park, where she spent the summer working as a maid at Canyon Lodge, which allowed her to remain near Waldo.
After moving to Wisconsin, Marlene and Waldo had two daughters, Barbara and Mary. Over the years, the family lived in Pumpkin Center, Washington; Mankato, Minnesota; Mason City, Iowa; St. Louis Park, Minnesota; and Bloomington, Minnesota.
Marlene worked as a Head Start and kindergarten teacher for approximately 17 years. Throughout her life, she also held many other jobs, including caring for the elderly.
Marlene later married James “Jimmy” Raiche and embraced retirement as a Minnesota-Texas snowbird. She continued her adventures with Jimmy, spending summers in Grand Marais, Minnesota, and winters in South Padre Island, Texas. She loved listening to his rich voice as he sang during their drives from one part of the country to another.
They eventually settled into their retirement home in Edina, Minnesota, where they enjoyed many walks around Centennial Lakes and frequently spent time with their many friends.
Marlene loved her family and friends dearly. She was creative and artistic, and her beautiful gardening was admired by many. She enjoyed swimming, hunting for shells and agates, animals, playing cards, music, and good cooking. She was never one to say no to a game night with family.
Marlene believed in the love of Jesus and in the end, found comfort through talking about His love with her family. A favorite verse of hers was Psalm 23.
Marlene is survived by her daughters, Barbara (John) Berlin and Mary (Arthur) Pearson; grandchildren, Kirstin (Brett) Scherer, Alexandria (Kiel) Harton, Anthony (Yangyang) Pearson, Jesse (Natalie) Pearson, and William Berlin; great-grandchildren, Zoey Hodges, Jaden Scherer, Colton Scherer, Sophia Harton, Bennett Harton, Laona Pearson, Athena Pearson, and Elena Pearson; many nieces and nephews; and her dear friend, Irene Asp, Waldo’s wife.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Nick and Marie Boldt; brothers Dennis (Juanita), Leo (Thelma), Leslie, and Royal; her husband, James Raiche; and her first husband, Waldo Asp.
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She was way ahead of her time in the area of nutrition and back in the 70’s she was convincing us that whole food vitamins were better than others and she was juicing and making smoothies out of vegetables and fruits. They didn’t taste bad at all but I learned to appreciate that years later. She even gave us her juicer when we had to make homemade formula for William as an infant with juiced carrots, goat milk, and purified water.
I remember learning to hand wash dishes as a preschooler with her and watched her as she made homemade pickles and canned fruit in Washington state.
She enjoyed hosting and serving people and collected pretty teacups for when she had visitors. I saw her serve tea, wine and cheese, flaming jubilee, birthday parties, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. She loved to keep croissants on hand just in case someone stopped by so she could make them a sandwich.
Mom had an adventurous spirit and was the first in her family to go off to college at Mankato State for a teaching degree. She took a train by herself to Yellowstone National Park for summer work as a maid in the Canyon Lodge. She told me how they jumped off the cliffs to float down the Firehole River.
Family was important to her and she made sure that we took family trips on a western loop to include Disneyland, to Florida after Disneyworld opened, and out east to visit relatives.
Her finest moments were when she was taking care of people. When we were sick, she cared for us by making soup or tea, holding our hair back from the toilet, or holding our shoulders. When I had surgery as a preschooler, mom stayed with me in the hospital room and spent the nights. She read stories to me and my roommate who never had any visitors the whole time that I was there. I know that Mom was a blessing to me and that other little girl. She also cared for several elderly people and knew how to connect with them with meaningful activities.
She planted the seed in me that Jesus is love and is all loving. She also had the firm belief that the Lord always watched out over her and that He would take care of her needs in some way.
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Together, let us continue the legacy of compassion and kindness that Marlene embodied throughout their life.
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