Marion Jean Leifer (Perchbacher)

Marion Jean Leifer (née Perschbacher) passed away peacefully in her sleep the evening of Saturday, April 9, 2016, in an assisted living center in Missoula.

Marion was born on Jan. 30, 1926, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, daughter of Carl and Edna Perschbacher. She grew up in Milwaukee and Wauwatosa where she was very active in the Galena Street Methodist Church, enjoyed bicycling and visiting her grandparents’ farm. Marion graduated from Racine Teachers Training College in 1944. During World War II, she was the teacher in a one-room country school and drove truck for Golden Guernsey Dairy.

In August 1948, Marion was named secretary to the new Methodist Bishop of Wisconsin and moved to Madison, Wisconsin. There she met and married Lorenz Leifer, a widower with two sons, on Dec. 21, 1949. Together they had one more child, a girl, in October 1950. Marion and “Larry” shared 50 years of wonderful marriage, raising their children, visiting their grandchildren, worshiping in Immanuel Lutheran Church, playing golf, bridge and curling together.

Marion served in a number of executive positions including president of the Madison area YWCA, president of the Madison area Parent Teacher Association (PTA), executive director of the Wisconsin state PTA, president of the National Women’s Curling Association, executive secretary of the Industrial Relations Research Association (IRRA), and bookkeeper for Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Larry died in October 1999 and in the spring of 2000, Marion moved to Missoula. She volunteered with Traveler’s Rest State Park, Missoula Food Bank and Missoula Aging Services, earning the volunteer of the year award and a national Points of Light award in 2007. She also became an active member of Unity Church of Missoula, serving on the board and as a prayer chaplain.

Marion was a loving wife, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin and friend to all who knew her. She loved throwing parties and feeding people well. She was generous both with material things and her love, a good listener with a warm heart for any who needed the loving presence of a mother. Survivors include her sister Lois Humiston Lister Leslie (née Perschbacher); son Richard and his wife Carol Leifer; son Timothy E. and wife Bonnie Leifer; daughter Nancy Leifer and partner Roger Strobel; grandchildren, Lynn Myers, Timothy R. Leifer, Tiffany Jette, Todd Leifer, Terra Leifer; and seven great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held at Unity of Missoula, 546 South Ave. W., Missoula, Saturday, June 11, at 10:30 a.m., with a lunch to follow. Memorial gifts can be given to the Missoula Food Bank, Missoula Aging Service and Unity Church of Missoula.