Marilyn Joyce (Bakke) Keefer, age 89, of Houston, TX, died Sunday, July 11, 2021, at Ella Springs Assisted Living in Houston, TX. She was born March 31, 1932, in LaCrosse, WI, to Conrad and Ruth (Stalsberg) Bakke. She graduated from Westby High School in 1950 and went on to get her Teaching Certification from Vernon County Teachers College and her BA in Education from the University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse. She married William (Bill) Howard Keefer on December 12, 1953, at the Bethesda Lutheran Brethren Church parsonage in Westby.

Marilyn and Bill lived primarily in Westby, WI before moving to Houston, TX in 1983. As a devoted Christian, Marilyn raised her family in the church. Her day-to-day life and testimony provided the purest example of how a Christian woman lives. She was a Charter Member of Hope Community Evangelical Covenant Church in Houston, TX.  Her church family always held a special place in her heart. Marilyn's greatest joy was her family. She loved talking about and celebrating her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchild.

Marilyn's teaching career spanned nearly 40 years beginning in a one room schoolhouse in Springville, WI and including Prairie View Elementary in DeSoto, WI and Smith Elementary in Spring, TX. She was honored as Teacher of the Year during her tenure at Smith Elementary in Spring ISD and continued to substitute teach well after her official retirement. She was beloved by her teaching colleagues and former students, with many students reaching out to their "favorite teacher" through social media years later, expressing what a difference she made in their lives.

She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 68 years, Bill, Houston, TX; daughter and son-in-law Heidi and John Hines, Houston, TX; son Bruce, Picayune, MS; son and daughter-in-law Brian and Yong, Denver, CO; daughter and son-in-law Robin and Jeff Carey, Park Rapids, MN; grandchildren, Holly (Brandon) Bretzke, TX, Trey (Shana) Hines, VA, Allison (Travis) Haik, MS, Andrew (Jessica) Keefer, WA, Kasandra Page, CO, Jeremiah Page, CO, Will Keefer, CO; great grandchildren, Hayley and Skyler, TX; Chloe, VA; Aviana, Zoey, and Logan, MS; Bradford and Bramwell, LA; Nora, Zephy, and Xavier, CO; great-great grandchild, Jordan, TX; sisters-in-law, Lily (Keefer) Browning, Point Pleasant, WV; Irene (Iverson) Bakke, Janesville, WI, and Sarah (Matthew) Keefer; Gallipolis, OH; many nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Conrad and Ruth (Stalsberg) Bakke, sister, Frances (Bakke) Kettelson; brothers, Richard, David, and Harvin Bakke; brothers-in-law Milroy Keefer and Sheldon Kettelson; and sisters-in-law Susie (Keefer) Smith and Diane (Suiter) Bakke.

A memorial service will be held at Hope Community Evangelical Covenant Church, 11811 Misty Valley Dr, Houston, TX 77066, on Saturday, July 24, 2021, at 2:00 pm.

The family would like to thank the staff at Ella Springs Assisted Living for their loving care and compassion.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Hope Community Evangelical Covenant Church

Klein Funeral Home of Tomball, TX is assisting the family with arrangements.