Marilyn Sawatsky, of Hamilton, passed peacefully into the presence of her Lord and Savior on Thursday, September 12, 2024 at the Bitterroot Living Centre, with her son Michael and daughter-in-law Deanna by her side. She was 85.
Marilyn was born June 6, 1939, in Portland, Arkansas, to Thomas and Audrey Knight. She was the sister of John “Buddy” Knight and a twin to Betty Carilyn Knight. Betty survived only 17 days and Marilyn spoke often about seeing her again one day.
She had been a resident of 150 Skeels Avenue in Hamilton for the past six years, coming to Montana from Northern California to be near family.
Marilyn married Billy Tidwell in Greenville, Mississippi in 1957 and four children were born to that union.
They moved to California where she spent most of her life. She taught Sunday School for years and was the piano player at their church.
Marilyn later married Jake Sawatsky and began a career in nursing. She was a nurse with Mercy Hospital in both Redding and Sacramento, for 23 years until retirement. Jake passed away in 2004.
Upon arriving in Montana, Marilyn became a member of the Assembly of God Church in Hamilton and had many friends in her church family that cared for her and loved on her in many ways, with visitations and meals, rides to appointments, luncheons and dinners and other church gatherings.
She was a faithful prayer warrior, with family and friends always on her heart and in her prayers. She was an avid reader, her Bible first and foremost, but enjoyed her books and magazines of all sorts.
Her favorite author was Debbie McComber, and she had read every book she had written over the years.
Marilyn had a love for music and played piano and accordion. She had a keyboard that she brought to gatherings where friends and family played music together.
Marilyn is survived by her brother Buddy of Inkom, Idaho; children Mike Tidwell (Deanna) of Stevensville, MT; Patrick Tidwell of Chehalis, WA; Debbie Hambelton of Lancaster, CA and Candace Martin of Belton, TX, along with many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Thank you to all the hospital staff and hospice care teams in both Hamilton and Stevensville for your care. It has been much appreciated.
Private family interment took place at Sunnyside Cemetery in Stevensville.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Hamilton Assembly of God at 601 W. Main Street on Saturday, October 5th at 11:00.