A memorial mass for Marilyn Jean (Bachand) Nona, 79, will be held Wednesday, November 4, 2015, at 10am at St. Francis of Assissi Catholic Church, Sturgis. Fellowship Luncheon will follow at the church after burial at St Aloysius Cemetery.

Marilyn Died Thursday, October 15, 2015 near Snohomish, WA where she currently resided.

She was born October 6, 1936 in Sturgis, SD to Edward and Anne (Charnesky) Bachand. Marilyn was a graduate of St. Martins Academy and Sacred Heart School of Nursing. After graduation, she moved to Hollywood, CA, and worked as an RN. In January of 1963, she married William Nona in West Hollywood, CA, and had two children. Marilyn returned home to Sturgis where she continued her long career in nursing and continuing education. She became Sturgis' first Physician's Assistant as well as the first woman PA in the State of South Dakota to make ambulance runs. She enjoyed working with Dr. Massa and Dr. Berry along with the care she provided to countless residents of Sturgis.

Marilyn's community involvement ranged from being a board member of Sky Ranch for Boys, Eucharistic and Liturgy Instructor at St Francis of Assisi Church, to being crowned CYO Girl of the Year. Her hobbies included travel to over 40 countries, hiking (Machu Pichu, Matterhorn in Switzerland, Hells Pass in Thailand and most of the Black Hills Centenial Trail), skiing, golf, rock climbing, reading and music. Even though Marilyn traveled the world, she was always and forever loyal to her beautiful Black Hills. She had a profound love for all her dogs that were always a great source of joy and comfort to her. Whether heading off to the store or on a house call to one of her many patients, you could always see a happy pooch with its head out the back window of Marilyn's station wagon!

Survivors include son, Michael Nona, Spearfish, Becky (Nona) Townsend, Snohomish, WA; sister Patsy Bachand, Sturgis; brother, Bruce Bachand, currently residing in Conneticut; 4 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren; 4 nieces; 1 nephew; and many grand-nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Anne Bachand.

Memorials may be made to Sturgis Public Library, St. Aloysius Cemetery Board, or the Humane Society.

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