Marilyn Maxine Crago Dobesh 
(September 17, 1944 - March 2, 2010) 

Having touched many lives on earth, Marilyn Dobesh joined her Father in heaven 
on March 2, 2010 due to complications with lymphoma. Marilyn loved her family, 
her church and people in general. She provided a source of guidance and strength
to those around her. Cooking and then sharing a meal with those who were hurting
was also a big part of Marilyn’s life. She loved to help serve community meals, 
deer hunters and branding parties. 

Marilyn Maxine Crago was born in Spearfish, SD on September 17, 1944 to 
Della (Horton) and Walter Crago. She grew up on ranches in Montana, Wyoming 
and South Dakota. She attended first grade at Spearfish Normal School and 
later attended the Crago School northwest of Belle Fourche and Baroid School
at Colony, Wyoming. While attending Belle Fourche High School, Marilyn was a 
cheerleader, homecoming queen attendant, student council president, 
and Honored Queen of Job’s Daughters. She graduated in 1962. 


On August 28, 1962, Marilyn married her sweetheart, Frank Dobesh. 
They raised four children, as well as welcoming over 80 foster 
children into their home over the years. Marilyn was active in
community activities, including Town ‘n Country Extension Club, 
teaching Sunday and Bible School, and along with Frank was a counselor 
for BYF and MYF. She taught every age youth group, but enjoyed the
smallest learners the most! Marilyn spent hours helping with 
“Grandpa Frank’s Children’s Messages” given during the Sunday 
Service. She attended a community Bible Study for several years 
and believed strongly that the Lord would take care of her and 
her loved ones. 


Marilyn was instrumental in organizing the AFS chapter, which brought
foreign students to Belle Fourche. She was so committed to the implementation
of this program that she convinced her parents to serve as the host family 
for the first exchange student, Aud Willoch, from Norway. She and her family
later hosted two AFS students, Michelle Parsons from South Africa and Herman
Amaza Tapia from Chile. Their home was opened to many foreign exchange 
students from various programs, as well as agricultural trainees. 


4-H was also an important part of Marilyn’s life. She was a member for
many years, served as a Leader for 20 years, and Vice-President of the 
State 4-H Executive Board. Marilyn was an active ranch partner, using 
her 4-H livestock judging skills to select beef and sheep breeding stock.
She was President of the South Dakota Cattlewomen’s Association, 
Parliamentarian of the American National Cattlewomen, and served 
on the Board of Directors of the Beef Industry Council. In 2001 she 
was selected for the South Dakota Eminent Homemaker Award. The South 
Dakota Ceres Fraternity chose her as a Prominent Woman in Agriculture
in 2009, and she was inducted into the SD 4-H Volunteer Hall of 
Fame the same year. 

Marilyn is survived by her husband of 47 years, Frank Dobesh, 
four children: Misti (Kerry) Wahl of Dillon, MT and sons Trent and Garrett; 
Boe (Lisa) Dobesh of Belle Fourche and daughters Brandy (Scott) Daniels 
and son Troy of Sundance, Ashley and Dusti; Clint (Sherri) Dobesh of Dell
Rapids, SD and their children Breona, Michael, Mallery and Karley; and 
Dane (Kristi) Dobesh of Belle Fourche. She is also survived by her mother,
Della Crago Courtney and her husband James Courtney of Belle Fourche; 
one sister, Marcia (Howard) Heinje of Wilmot, SD; a brother Clifford (Chris) Crago 
of Belle Fourche, sisters-in-law Sue Crago and Barbara (Kent) Robinson, 
both of Belle Fourche, and many nieces and nephews. 
Very special to her was her mother-in-law Bernice Dobesh of
Spearfish and her friend Grandma Georgia Tessness of 
Belle Fourche. 

Marilyn was preceded in death by her father Walter Crago, 
brother Lester, grandparents Lester & Island
(Kirkham) Horton, great grandparents Henry & Mary
Elizabeth (Van Meter) Kirkham.

Visitation was 6:00 p.m. to 8:00p.m. Friday, March 5 at 
Kline Funeral Chapel in Belle Fourche. 

Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 6 at the 
First Baptist Church in Belle Fourche with 
Pastor Anthony Bradseth officiating. Burial will 
follow at Pine Slope Cemetery in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. 

The family will establish a memorial for the ministering to the youth. 

Family and friends may leave written condolences at www.klinefuneralchapel.com. 







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