Marilyn Marie Dalby, 90

Marilyn Marie Dalby, 90, passed away on Friday, Dec. 23, 2016, in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Private family services will be held at a later date.

Marilyn was born to McKinley and Harriet Handley Roberts on Sept. 19, 1926, in Tekoa, Wash.

The oldest of three children, she grew up enjoying time with family and friends. At an early age, Marilyn developed a love of music, with encouragement from her mother, and this became a lifelong passion. She played the flute and piano and later taught private piano lessons in her home.

One of her fondest memories was of her eighth birthday party. Her mother Harriet took her and five friends on a hike to the top of Tekoa Mountain. There they enjoyed a picnic lunch before hiking down, accompanied by her faithful small black dog, Pepper.

A few years later, Marilyn was one of the first little summer campers at Camp Sweyolakan on Lake Coeur d’Alene. She later became a counselor and formed special, lifelong friendships at the camp. This is also where she became an accomplished swimmer.

After graduating from Tekoa High School, Marilyn attended Washington State College. She pledged Pi Beta Phi sorority and continued her music studies.

After completing her sophomore year at WSC, she took a summer job at Alderbrook Inn on Hood Canal in western Washington. It was there that she would meet the love of her life, Dave Dalby.

Marilyn and Dave were married on Dec. 27, 1947, in Tekoa.

They were true soul mates with a zest for life, family and adventure.

In November 1948, they welcomed a daughter, Marilyn Marie. In 1949, they decided to leave the coast and start a new life in Sandpoint.

When they first arrived in Sandpoint, they lived in the Elliot Hotel on the corner of Second Avenue and Pine Street. They later lived on Short Avenue before settling into their home above Sand Creek, north of town.

Soon Marilyn and Dave welcomed another daughter, Susan Jane and a son, David McKinley into their lives. They fell in love with Sandpoint, the people of the area, the four seasons, and outdoor recreational activities. The Dalbys were one of the first to purchase a family season pass at Schweitzer Mountain Resort.

Dave and Marilyn ran the Signal Oil and then Exxon franchises in the area. They worked hard building their business and had plenty of fun along the way.

Marilyn said some of her fondest memories were taking the afternoon off to go skiing at Schweitzer, then coming home and working into the evening.

Marilyn enjoyed skiing with picnic lunches at Schweitzer, swimming, water skiing and boating on Priest Lake and Lake Pend Oreille, hiking, camping, road trips, Canadian adventures, gardening, reading, playing the piano, and singing everywhere — by the bonfire, in her home, in the car, and with Sweet Adelines.

Starting in the 1970s, she enjoyed spending time with her parents, other family members, and friends at their Bottle Bay Road lake place and Manzanillo, Mexico.

Marilyn was a kind and thoughtful person who will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

She had a tremendous love of family, friends, and learning new things. She was also extremely proud of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

She had a wonderful life experiencing beautiful sunrises, special days and a lifetime of glorious sunsets in her 90 years.

Her family is thankful that she is united with her beloved husband, Dave, and others who have gone before her.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Mac and Harriet Roberts; a brother, John Roberts; her husband, Dave Dalby; and a grandson, Christopher Dalby.

Surviving are her children: Marilyn Sabella, Susan Dalby and Bill D’Olier of Sandpoint; David and Debra Dalby of Portland, Ore.; grandchildren David (Stephanie) Thornton, Peter (Amber) Thornton of Boise, Idaho, Derek Dalby of Corvallis, Ore., Laura Dalby of Portland, Ore.; great-grandchildren Avery, Eleanor and Johnny Thornton of Boise; her brother Marshall (Joyce) Roberts and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Memorial donations may be made to The Festival at Sandpoint, PO Box 695, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements.

Please visit Marilyn’s online memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign her guest book.