Marilyn Ann Bruning

May 19, 1950 ~ August 28, 2020

Marilyn A. Bruning, 70, Sioux Falls, formerly Brandon, died Friday, August 28, 2020, at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Visitation with family, will be 5-7pm, Monday, September 14, 2020, with a Prayer Service at 7pm, at Heartland Funeral Home in Brandon, SD.  Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30am, Wednesday, September 16, 2020, at St. Therese Catholic Church, Deephaven, MN, (18323 Minnetonka Blvd., Deephaven, MN) with a visitation beginning at 9:30am. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, an Online Memorial may be donated to either the Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN. www.philanthropy.mayoclinic.org. Choose “other” and specify “Bone Marrow Transplant”. Or Avera Health, Sioux Falls, SD. www.avera.org/donate . Select McKennan Hospital and specify Bone Marrow Transplant Fund.

Marilyn Ann Oppegard was born on May 19, 1950, in Grand Island, NE, to Paul and Florence (Graca) Oppegard. Marilyn grew up in Bloomington, MN, where she graduated from Lincoln High School. She went on to study Home Economics at the University of Minnesota where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree.

   Her studies, along with her humor, and God-given gift of traditional class and grace gave her the ability to exhibit and display respect. In 1973, Marilyn went with her mother to purchase a car. The salesman turned out to be the love of her life, Bob Bruning. Two years later, on April 11, 1975, Marilyn and Bob were married at St. Therese Catholic Church in Deephaven, MN. This union was blessed with three boys. Brian, Jeff, and J.R.

    Marilyn loved watching her boys play Hockey and Baseball. Marilyn made many friends during the years her boys played sports. Many of these friends were lifelong friends. She was the best chauffer because she played their kind of music loudly! Everyone thought of her as “Mom”.

Friends of the boys would always be welcomed at their house. The boys loved to tease her and she loved it when they did. As the boys grew into men, she created provided the most wonderful parties, elegant cards, and invitations. When the boys were married, she was instrumental in giving them the wedding of their dreams. Complete with incredible invitations and decorations. Marilyn began working as a Graphic Designer for Morgan Williams in the mid-90s, until she and Bob founded Bruning Marking and Promotions in 2006. She was a very talented graphic designer and was the creative genius behind the business. In June, 2011, Marilyn was diagnosed with cancer. She continued to work as long as she could but eventually, her illness demanded that she retire.

    Marilyn loved to travel and especially enjoyed the Ocean. She had always dreamed of retiring to a beach somewhere in the sun where she could have a casual little place, “M’s Sandbar”. She would be the aging hostess.  Beyond everything else, Marilyn loved her grandchildren. Just being around them gave her pure joy. You could find her baking or making pickles with them or sitting on the patio just talking. She felt the best gift she could give them was family, traditional values and her time. She enjoyed sitting around a bonfire listening to and singing Motown or classic oldies with her family and friends.

   Marilyn will be deeply missed by her husband, Bob; three children, Brian Bruning, Chanhassen, MN, Jeff (Siobhan) Bruning, Chandler, AZ and JR (Nicole) Bruning, Sioux Falls, SD; four grandchildren, Tyson, Chase, Peyten, and Baylor Bruning.; siblings, Kathy (Dean) Speliotes, Sioux Falls, Patty (Gordy)Marquardt, Bethel, MN, Mark (Lisa) Oppegard, Bloomington, MN, Matt (Liz) Oppegard, Savage, MN, Mary Ann (Andy) Gilbert, Sioux Falls, SD, and Nancy Svobodny, Eagan, MN; and many nephews, nieces, cousins, and lifelong friends.

   Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents.