Marion L. Muthiah

Marion Lorene (Unkenholz) Muthiah died at the age of 84 on Monday, June 25, 2018. She was born to H. Grant and Isabelle Unkenholz on August 23, 1933, in Mandan, ND. After attending rural school and Mandan High School, she enrolled at Taylor University in the pre-nursing program and received a BA in 1956. She was a graduate of the Bismarck Hospital School of Nursing. As a sophomore in high school, she felt the call to be a missionary. She eventually followed this calling by enrolling in Scarritt College for Christian Workers in Nashville, TN. It was there that she met her future husband, Lionel Muthiah. They were married on August 28, 1959, and soon after moved to Malaysia. Lorene and Lora, their twin daughters, were born in Malaysia; sons Robert and Richard were born after the family returned to the United States. Marion and Lionel later served as missionaries in Medan, Indonesia, and Sibu, Malaysia. Upon returning to the United States in 1976, Marion worked as a nurse in North and South Dakota as Lionel served in different congregational appointments. Marion and Lionel spent the first 17 years of retirement in her home town of Mandan, ND. They moved to Oregon in 2009 and lived in Friendsview Retirement Community. Marion was active with the United Methodist Church, providing leadership in local United Methodist Women's groups and serving with the Board of Global Ministries. She was also active in Kiwanis; Marion was a charter member of one of the first Kiwanis clubs to admit women and served as Governor of the Kiwanis Minnesota-Dakotas District. She loved music. She was an accomplished piano player, played the organ and accordion, and sang in her church choirs. She is also remembered for her heart for service and her love of learning. She enjoyed reading, sewing, gardening, and arranging flowers. Marion is survived by her husband Lionel, her four children, Lorene Coffey (Batavia, IL), Lora Helton (Franklin, TN), Robert Muthiah (Altadena, CA), Richard Muthiah (Newberg, OR); fifteen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild, with a second great-grandchild due soon. She is also survived by her siblings, Grant Unkenholz (Breckenridge, MN), Richard Unkenholz (Prescott, AZ), Ruth Case (Kokomo, IN), and James Unkenholz (Bismarck, ND).

Marion L. Muthiah

August 23, 1933 - June 25, 2018