Marlyce Jean (Willard) Ross, age 84 of Redwood Falls, passed away Thursday, December 16, 2021 at her home surrounded by her family.  Memorial Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, January 7, 2022 at First United Methodist Church in Redwood Falls with a livestream on Stephens Funeral Service Facebook Page.  Visitation will be 4:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 6 at Redwood Valley Funeral Home.  Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at church on Friday.  Interment will be held at a later date.  

Marlyce Jean (Willard) Ross was born on September 17, 1937 to Leonard and Fern (Manz) Willard of Flandreau, South Dakota.  Marlyce graduated from Flandreau High School, where she was a National Honor student.  She attended General Beadle State Teacher’s College in Madison, SD. She taught Country School for 5 years in Brookings Township in SD.    She married James Ross, the love of her life, on June 3, 1961 in Pipestone, Minnesota.  Together they raised two children in Wood Lake.  They retired in Redwood Falls.  Marlyce attended Southwest State University in Marshall, where she received a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.  She taught elementary school in Vesta and Wabasso for 24 years and retired in 1998.  She continued to substitute teach at Reede Gray elementary in Redwood Falls.  Jim and Marlyce did some traveling to Florida, New Jersey, New York, Washington DC, Las Vegas, Branson, Boston, San Antonio, Chicago, Nashville, Virginia Beach, Alaska, Hawaii, South Carolina and a Cruise with their children and spouses to the Caribbean. They attended many of Jim’s Navy reunions in these locations. Marlyce and her daughter Patty took a trip to visit her sister, Marilyn in New Jersey, and traveled to New York and Washington DC during their trip. Marlyce enjoyed spending time on the weekends at the cabin on Norway Lake during the summers reading, relaxing and fishing.  She was a long time member of the United Methodist Church.  She enjoyed going to the Redwood Area Community Center daily to exercise and socialize with all her special friends. Marlyce enjoyed having flowers; she had many outdoor planters and indoor plants.  You could often find her in her vegetable garden.  She canned pickles, tomatoes, salsa, green beans, and corn.  Marlyce loved to sew and make crafts.  She used to sew the kid’s clothes when they were little.  Marlyce loved to spend time with her family and friends, especially attending her kid’s and grandkid’s school activities and sporting events.  She loved to watch Bill and Tony play basketball, baseball and fast pitch softball.  Marlyce loved to spend time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren; she always enjoyed seeing photos of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Marlyce is survived by her husband, Jim of 60 years; children:  William (Janet) Ross of Wood Lake and Patricia (Todd) Amberg of Redwood Falls; grandchildren:  Anthony (Alissa) Ross of Cleveland and Brandi Amberg of Cottonwood; great grandchildren: Annie and Cecilia Ross; siblings: William (Bonnie) Willard of Brandon, SD and Marilyn (Dean) Olson of Old Bridge, NJ; sister-in-law: Jean Jones of St Cloud; and many other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, brothers: Albert & Dan Willard, and sister: Patricia Willard.