Funeral services for Marian D. Houge will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the First Lutheran Church of Albert Lea. The Rev. John Holt will officiate. Visitation will be held Monday evening from 4 until 7 p.m. at Bonnerup Funeral Service, and one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the Graceland Cemetery.

Mrs. Houge died Saturday morning, Jan. 21, 2006, at her home in Albert Lea. She was 78 years of age.

Marian was born July 10, 1927, in Albert Lea, the daughter of George and Beatha (Petersen) Ochs. She was the fifth child in a family of ten children. She graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1945. After working at Wilson’s for a year, she attended McConnell Modeling/Flight Attendant School in Minneapolis.

Marian came back to Albert Lea and on Aug. 14, 1949, and was united in marriage to Bernie Houge.

When her youngest daughter, Diane was in the fourth grade, she went back to school to freshen her secretarial skills. She was employed at Land-O-Lakes and then was administrative assistant to Keith Barnes at Farmstead. She retired at 64 years of age. After nine years of retirement she went to work at Hallmark in Northbridge Mall, a job she really enjoyed.

Marian belonged to the Elks Does, Legion Auxiliary, Caring and Sharing, was a Girl Scout Leader, Past President of the Albert Lea Country Club, Advisory Board for River land College and on the Albert Lea Bowling Ladies Board.

Marian is survived by her son Chaplain Col. Gerald and his wife Rebecca Houge of Aviano Air Force Base in Italy; daughters Jacquelyn and her husband Robert Bogue of Canton, S.D., Nancy and her husband Steven Gilbertson of Alexandria, and Diane and her husband Stafford Sterner of Bloomington.

There are seven grandchildren: Rachel, Laura and Jared Houge, Krista Bogue, Matthew, Stacy and Michael Gilbertson.

Also surviving are brothers: Clayton (Barbara) Ochs of New Brighton, David (Joy) Ochs of Pharr, Texas, Richard (Barbara) Ochs of Albert Lea, Thomas (Anise) Ochs of Warner Robins, Ga.; one sister: Gayle (Paul) Olson of Albert Lea; sisters-in-law: Karen and LaVaun Houge of Albert Lea; many nieces and nephews; special niece: Lora (Randy) Low of Albert Lea; and special adopted family; Todd, Ann, Kyle, Karli and Kohl Kriewall of Albert Lea.

Marian was preceded in death by her parents; husband Bernie; brothers

Keith and Jerry Ochs; sisters Crystal Ebeling and Norma Bue; brothers-in-law Tom Houge, Allen Houge, Clayton Bue and Jack Ebeling.

Celebrate her life, and blessed be her memory.

Memorials to be sent to Albert Lea Cancer Center, Crossroads Community Hospice, or First Lutheran Church.