Malisse (Lee) Mahlum passed out of this life on Oct. 6, 2018. Lee was born on July 2, 1923, in Rapid City, SD, the oldest daughter of Algernon and Violet Taylor. She moved with her family to Vermont when she was 16. She finished high school in Vermont and went to nursing school in New Hampshire. Upon graduating, she joined the Army Nurse Corps as a 2 nd lieutenant and spent 2 years in England and Germany. She returned in 1947 and attended University of Michigan, graduating as a nurse anesthetist. She took a position in Billings Deaconess for 2 years, during which she met Willard Mahlum while on a road trip with some of her nurse friends. They were married in Brattleboro, VT in 1951. Son Gary was born in 1953 and Loran followed in 1955. Lee stayed at home with her sons until 1958, when she went to work with Dr. Mark Listerud as a freelance nurse anesthetist. She continued in that position until retiring in 1994.
Lee was always taking a challenge and usually coming out successful. She became an excellent cook, much to the relief and delight of her family. She took up sewing and knitting as a hobby and made many articles of clothing for herself and others. She took her boys fishing in Wolf and Tule Creeks when the trout fishing was still good there, something that is gone forever now. She was an avid bridge player, and she and Willard didn’t let a week go by in the fall and winter when there wasn’t a dinner party with bridge after. Lee’s gardens resulted in great pies and pickles. Her chokecherry jelly was unmatched and quickly disappeared. She didn’t believe in a moment’s idleness.
Lee’s love of reading led her to the local library in the basement of the courthouse. Her desire to improve the facility in Wolf Point culminated in her chairing the library board to get our present library built and catalogued. She later was a founder of the “Friends of the Library” organization here.
Lee loved children, and one of her greatest joys was when she could spend time with those of her own family and her friends and neighbors. She always had cookies available whenever they came to visit. She was very proud of her grandsons, Norven Mahlum and Gavin Lewis. She was thrilled when Gavin and Donna Headdress provided her with a great-grandson, Kade.
Lee put her nursing knowledge and instincts into caring for Willard for a long time before his death in 2001. Nothing prepared her for the loss of her son Loran 5 years later but her family got behind her and helped her, and she got back into life with her usual determination. Her sister-in-law, Doris Larson was her constant companion until her death in 2012. She kept her social network as best she could, but eventually, she was the only one left, as her memory and health began to fail. She became a resident of Faith Lutheran Home in March of 2016.
Malisse was preceded in death by her parents, sister Donna Jones, brother Jack Taylor, husband Willard, and son Loran. She is survived by son Gary, brother David Taylor, grandson Norven Mahlum, grandson Gavin Lewis, and great-grandson Kade Lewis.
Malisse’s family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff of Faith Lutheran Home for their excellent care and understanding. Mom had a wonderful friend at Faith Home, Shirley Moran, who shared her table and understood her like no one else. Also, thanks to Dr. Mark Zilkoski for years of care and friendship, and Joann Hibl for her steady guidance.
Lee became a member of the 1 st Lutheran Church in the first part of this century. She very much enjoyed her relationship with the congregation and the pastor, Greg Holler-Dinsmore and his wife, Christine.
A memorial service for Lee will be held at 10:00 AM, Friday, October 19, 2018, at First Lutheran Church in Wolf Point.
In lieu of flowers, Lee’s family would encourage a donation to First Lutheran Church or the Wolf Point 100 Club.
Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements and condolences can be left for the family by using the form below.