LEES – Marlene Joan (Lawson) - 1935 - 2009. Marlene Lees of Hanna, AB, formerly of Stettler, AB, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009 at the age of 73 years. Marlene was born on Aug. 6, 1935 in Oak Lake, MN. She attended Oak Lake School until grade 10. At the age of 16 her mother passed away with Spinal Meningitis. After her mother’s death she lived with her grandparents and worked for the Manitoba Telephone Company as an operator in Oak Lake. On Sept. 28, 1955 Marlene was united in marriage to Harry Albert Lees. Shortly after they were married they moved to Virden, MN where they made their first home for two years. Marlene gave birth to Brian and Donna while living in Virden. In November 1957 they moved to Entwhistle, AB for 2 ½ months. From there they moved to Red Deer, AB. During the 16 ½ years living in Red Deer, Marlene gave birth to Kathy, Sharon, Barry and Marva. In September 1973 they moved to Stettler where Marlene resided until the fall of 2003. From there she moved to Hanna to live with her youngest daughter until her passing. Marlene enjoyed both flower and vegetable gardening. She could take a slip cutting from a geranium in the fall, nurse it all winter in a container of water and plant the pathetic looking sprig in the spring to grow into the biggest, healthiest plant in the yard. Her gardens were virtually weedless and she was very adamant about planting her garden north to south one year and then east to west the next. Predeceased by her grandparents Cassie and Alfred Lawson; uncles: Lorne and Henry Lawson, and Rev. Bob Elliot; mother Margaret Brown; and sister Marva Brown; Marlene is survived by her six children: Brian Lees of Stettler, Donna Menard of Peace River, AB, Kathy Thomas of Stettler, Sharon Van Aert of Stettler, Barry (Michelle) Lees of Stettler and Marva Fecho of Hanna; 11 grandchildren: Michelle, Kevin, Steven Lees, Amy (Dale) Mailman, Calvin Menard, Kristin (Mark) Stahlberg, Katie McArthur, Tanner Van Aert, Shelbie, Schaylee Smith, and Shayna Fecho; eight great-grandchildren: Chantelle, Tye, Austin, Baylee, Deven, Jayden, Dreshaun and Tim; brother Dwight (Sheila) Brown; aunt Blanche Elliot; numerous other family members and many dear friends. A graveside service took place in the Lake View Cemetery, Stettler at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 4, 2009 followed by a Celebration of Life held in the Heartland Chapel of Stettler Funeral Home at 2 p.m. with Susan Nelson of Stettler United Church, officiating. Memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Alberta Cancer Foundation c/o Stettler Funeral Home. Sympathies may be forwarded to the family by signing the guestbook at www.stettlerfuneralhome.com.