Marcia S. Quale

Marcia S. Quale, 71, of Spicer, died Saturday, October 2nd at Carris Health Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.  Her memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 14, outdoors at Hope Presbyterian Church in Spicer.  Memorials may be directed to the GoFundMe page Marcia Quale Memorial Toy Drive to continue Marcia’s 15 years of work to bring toys to the children at the U of M Masonic Children’s Hospital.  Funeral arrangements are with Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar.  www.hafh.org

Marcia was born April 2, 1950, in Wilmar, the daughter of Milford (“Miff”) and Audrey (Lueck) Larson.  She was baptized and confirmed at Calvary Lutheran Church.  Attended Garfield Elementary School and graduated from Willmar High School in 1968.  Marcia attended one year at Willmar Community College, followed by a year at St. Cloud State. 

On December 19, 1970, she was united in marriage to Dan Martin Quale at Calvary Lutheran Church.   They resided in Duluth while Dan was stationed in the Air Force, St. Louis Park, Willmar, and Faribault.

In 1994 they were able to move back to “lake” country of which they loved so much, and built a home, in the woods, between Spicer and New London. Marcia and Dan were blessed with three sons, Scott Martin, Seth Philip and Jed Alan.  As a family, time was happily spent in hockey arenas, at football games, choir and orchestra concerts, dirt bike races, and most of all, at their grandparent’s cabin on Lake Florida. 

As a young girl, Marcia enjoyed gatherings with both sides of her parent’s families. She was especially fond of family gatherings at Lake Florida and the “summer” friendships made there and maintained over her adult years. 

As a mom, she worked in the church to teach and mentor youth and support members as a Stephen’s Minister, Befriender and council member. As a professional, she worked many years at Elmquist Jewelers in Willmar.

Marcia overcame significant medical challenges throughout her life. With the help of the many wonderful clinicians who have cared for her since 2006 she beat cancer twice and endured 2 years of dialysis. On December 15th, 2010, she was given the “Gift of Life,” when Dan donated one of his kidneys four days prior to their 40th Wedding Anniversary. In December 2020, they celebrated their 50th Anniversary. She was a heroic fighter to the end and lives on through her children and grandchildren.

Marcia is survived by her husband, Dan; sons: Scott (Kim) Quale of St. Paul, Seth (Sarah) Quale of Buffalo, Jed (Jenny) Quale of Atwater; eight grandchildren: Ella, Jack, Tessa, Alison, Max, Clara, Austin, and Leah.  Also surviving is her twin brother, Mark (Shirley) Larson of Lake Elmo and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Ross.

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