Marlene (Bales) Micheel, age 83, of Huron, SD, passed away on Wednesday, May 10, 2017 at the SunQuest Healthcare Center in Huron, SD.

Her funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 15, 2017 at the American Lutheran Church in Huron with burial at the Riverside Cemetery, Huron.

Visitation with the family present will be from 5-7 p.m. Sunday, May 14, at the Welter Funeral Home in Huron; or one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.

Marlene Heckenliable, the daughter of Hugo and Fern (Anderson) Heckenliable, was born on March 1, 1934 in Wolsey, SD.  She attended rural grade school and graduated from Wolsey High School.

Marlene married Larry Bales on June 6, 1954 in Huron, SD, and to this union were born four children: Kent, Alan, Joni, and Jane.   Marlene worked as a hostess, clerk, and operated a small Western Store at their family business, the Bales Sale Barn.  They also ran the Western Seven Car Wash. In her later years, Marlene worked at the Coach House Gifts in Huron.  Larry passed away on April 16, 1997.  A few years later, Marlene met Jerry Micheel and they were married on November 23, 2001 at the American Lutheran Church in Huron.

Marlene was a member of the First United Methodist.  She also attended the American Lutheran Church in Huron.  Marlene enjoyed gardening, reading, camping, and word search games. She enjoyed traveling especially the trips she and Jerry took to Washington D.C. and to Alaska. Marlene was a big Minnesota Vikings fan and loved attending their games. Marlene will always be remembered for her blue eyes and beautiful smile.

Grateful for having shared in Marlene's life are her husband, Jerry of Huron, SD; her four children:  sons, Kent (Elaine) Bales and Alan (special friend, Marie Fawcett) Bales both of Huron, SD; and daughters, Joni (Dale) Anderson of Corona, CA, and  Jane (Chuck) Kellogg of Huron, SD; 8 grandchildren: Scott (Christy) Bales, Curtis (Ruth) Bales, Brooke (Peter) Kalscheur, Jackie (Jason) Albert, Cody Anderson, Kraig Leichtenberg, Jonathan (Makala) Leichtenberg, and Mari Leichtenberg; 9 great-grandchildren: Trayten, Josh, Spencer, Vinny, Charley, Jack, Jace, Jett, and Hannah; Great-great-grandchild, Masyn; Marlene's siblings, Shirley Magee of Huron, SD, Deb Jacobsen of Watertown, SD, Larry Heckenliable of Las Vegas, NV, and Doug Heckenliable of Minneapolis, MN; and many nieces and nephews.

Marlene was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Larry Bales in 1997; her brother, Ronnie Heckenliable; and two brothers-in-law, Mike Magee and Jim Chell.