Marlene "Mardi" Violet Vavra

Marlene “Mardi” Violet Vavra, 74, Stanton, ND, passed away February 29, 2024, at her home. 

A funeral service will be held at 11 AM on Friday, March 15, 2024, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Stanton, with Pastor Dennis Ristvedt officiating.  Cremation has taken place and visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. 

Mardi was born May 5, 1949, to Oscar and Violet (Mann) Rehling in Hebron, ND. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church. Mardi graduated from Zap High School in 1967.

Mardi enjoyed living on the farm and tending to a variety of animals, giving names to her favorites. The most recent one being her beloved pail calf, Gretchen. Mardi also enjoyed conversing over endless pots of coffee - or in her case, cream and sugar with a splash of coffee. 😊 Mardi missed her calling to be a race car driver. She was sure to arrive early to wherever she was going, even if she left too late. 

Mardi loved to read and always made sure a book was within reach. Before her cognitive health started to fail, she was well known for her good cooking. Bernhard Piatz told her on multiple occasions that the meal she made tasted awful, but then with a smirk on his face would ask for another helping or two. 

In August 2016, Mardi married Harold Vavra. They made their home south of Stanton. 

Mardi is survived by her husband, Harold, her children, grandchildren, sister, brother, niece, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. 

She is preceded in death by her spouses, Ron Walz and Tony Pfliger; parents; brother, Marvin; sister, Peggy; and nephew, Chad.