Marla Gellerman

Marla Jean Gellerman, 53, passed away peacefully on March 15th, 2024, in her home surrounded by family. 

 Marla was born May 11th, 1970, to Victoria (Eckman) and Gary Howe in Robbinsdale, MN. She spent her childhood growing up in Backus, MN, where she found her love of picking rocks with her grandpa (something she passed on to her grandchildren) or playing out in the hay fields. Marla attended Backus High School where she graduated in 1988. After graduation she went off to technical college where she earned her LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) degree, a degree she used many times over the years be it through working in a clinic or home health care, a job that came very easy to Marla as she always had a nurturing soul.   

Marla has five children: Chelsea (34), Brady (32), Victoria (28), Grace (22), Sarah (21), and many beloved grandchildren. One of Marla’s greatest joys was becoming a mother. She loved to share updates with family and friends on how her children were doing and would beam with pride when talking about being “Nana” to her grandbabies. Nana was a title and role Marla wore well. 

Marla eventually met and married her husband, Andy Gellerman, in Pine River, MN on February 11th, 2018. Andy and Marla enjoyed spending time at their lake cabin, playing dominoes and growing their faith in the Lord together. 

Marla had many hobbies but her favorite was gardening. She loved to watch the fruits of her labor grow, she enjoyed walking barefoot in the garden to feel the Earth under her feet, and she could stand in awe of how the Lord provides. Marla was also an exceptional baker. She was known in the family as the “go to” person for baking advice. She poured her heart and soul into every dessert and meal she made; no one’s cooking compared. She was also very passionate about music. She enjoyed playing piano in her youth and had a beautiful singing voice. She sang in the church choir and at many weddings and funerals. Marla was also quite the jokester. Laughter could always be heard when she was around. Marla brought joy to so many lives. Her kind and loving spirit will be deeply missed. 

She is survived by her husband, Andy Gellerman; her children, Chelsea Bixby, Brady (Destiny) Hopkins, Victoria (Devon) Burghart, Grace Carey, Sarah (Talon) Crawford; her parents, Gary and Victoria Howe; siblings, Lori (Kyle) Adkins, Christopher (Marie) Howe, Joshua (Kelly) Howe; grandchildren, Hunter and Charlee Bixby, Journey, Axton and Athena Hopkins, Kal Burghart, Grant and Maverick Crawford, and many nieces and nephews. 

Marla is preceded in death by her son in law Nathan Bixby. God has his hands full with these two together again, the shenanigans will be in full force! 

Services will be held at 2 PM on Sunday, March 24, 2024, at Lakeside Baptist Church in Backus. Visitation will be one hour prior with a lunch following the service.

Arrangements are entrusted to Kline Funeral Home and Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Pine River.