Marjorie Dale Day, 63

Marjorie Dale Day passed away on Jan. 11, 2014, near Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

Services will be in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 11 a.m. at the Woodland Mennonite Church. Burial will be in the Woodland Mennonite Church cemetery.

A memorial service will be in Burlingame, Kan., on Thursday, Jan. 23 from 6:30 -8 p.m.at the high school gymnasium.

Marj was born on March 3,1950, at Smith Center, in Smith County, Kan.

She passed away in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Her death was due to a long time fight with cancer. She grew up on the family farm in Osborn, Kan., and graduated from Osborn High School in 1968. She attended Fort Hays University, graduating in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. She later received certification in biology and general science from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan.

Marj worked for the Kansas Division of Girl Scouts as a field advisor inSalina, Kan. Her teaching career began in the Nashville-Zenda school system in the Cunningham District at the junior high for three years.

She went to work for Burlingame USD 454 District as a biology and general science teacher and also taught high school physical education.

She was a coach for volleyball and basketball. Washburn University provided her with a degree in art which was her main focus until her recent resignation due to her health.

Marj was a valuable softball player for the summer softball team in Burlingame for many summers.

She was a long-time member of the Federated Church of Burlingame and worked with the Youth for Christ and L Bar C Ranch as a counselor for many years.

She was involved with the stained glass window project that adorned the school building windows during the Christmas season. The windows inspired the whole community and any travelers through town for more than 16 years.

Marj’s teaching practices; being able to inspire her students have become legendary. She will be long remembered for being tough but fair to her students; always pushing them to do their best.

Students were her life and being a teacher was not work to her. Many will remember having to write the “Opportunity” poem.

Her teaching career spanned 37 and 1/2 years.

Marj would spend her summers in Idaho with Clay and Dot Unruh and extended family. She won many friends, here also. Her life was rich with adventures of fishing, huckleberry picking and shopping yard sales. After her retirement she went back to Idaho until her death.

Her fellow teachers, students and many friends will sorely miss her in Burlingame.

Surviving her in Osborn, Kan., are her mother, Adeline Day; sister, Jeanne and (Don) Becker and brother, Edwin Day.

Memorial contributions can be made to Midland Hospice - 200 SW Frazier Cr, Topeka, KS 66606-2800.

Family and friends are invited to sign Marj’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome. com Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.