Marlene Rose (Thompson) Fries, the daughter of Ivan V. and Charlotte (Heyn) Thompson was born October 19, 1935 in Adair County, Iowa. She passed away on Saturday, May 16, 2015 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 79 years, 6 months and 27 days. Marlene was raised in Bridgewater, Iowa and graduated from Bridgewater High School with the class of 1954. Marlene was united in marriage to Ronald Fries on August 26, 1956 at Bridgewater, Iowa. They moved to Red Oak in l960. After moving to Red Oak, Marlene went to work at Union Carbide. Later she worked at Uniroyal and Eveready Battery. Marlene's true passion was her horses. She spent almost every weekend of the summer competing in horse shows and the rest of the year, taking care of and training her horses. She was a member of the American Quarter Horse Association, the Nishna Valley Saddle Club in Shenandoah, IA and the Red Oak Saddle Club for 30 years. Marlene also enjoyed dancing and spending time with her family. Marlene was preceded in death by parents; husband, Ronald on February 22, 2001; infant brother, Delbert and infant sister, Joann. Marlene is survived by daughter, Kim Douthit and her husband Don of Clarinda, IA; son, Kelly Fries and special friend Vicki Stroural of Norfolk, NE; 2 step-grandchildren: Kelly Ann Massey and Jason Fallin; brother, Lloyd "Doc" Thompson and his wife Janice of Bridgewater, IA; and best friend, Jody Rock, other relatives and friends. May God bless her memory and give strength to those who mourn. Funeral Service will be held Wednesday, May 20, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home, Red Oak, IA Burial in Garner Cemetery, rural Bridgewater, IA at 2:00 p.m. Rev. Dr. Rich Iske, Officiating Visitation with the family will be Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home.