Marvin Douma
courtesy photo
Marvin Douma
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH — Marvin John Douma passed away on April 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was born on Oct. 6, 1935, in Bozeman to John and Maxine Moody Douma. He was raised near Anceney, west of Bozeman, on the Elk Creek Ranch. Marvin walked four miles to the Anceney grade school each day and his mother would drive down and pick him up after school. During the winter, he would stay in Bozeman with family and friends. While attending high school in Manhattan, he stayed with John and Gertie Kuipers during the week.The Kuipers have always held a very special place in Marvin’s heart.
After high school, Marvin moved to Spokane to attend trade school with an emphasis in welding and diesel mechanics. While in Spokane, he and Clarence Hamilton lived with Paul and Linda Trevithic. Over the years, the education from trade school, and the school of hard knocks, were very valuable on the farm.
Marvin met Mary Rose Stipe at a church convention in Ronan. After a courtship, they were married on Nov. 12, 1957, at Mary’s parents’ home, Paul and Bonnie Stipe, in Moiese.
After they were married, they returned to Anceney to farm with Marvin’s dad on the Elk Creek Ranch. In 1967 they bought a 320-acre farm in Moiese and grew it to over 1000 plus acres; harvesting wheat and hay and raising cattle and pigs. They lived there until Sept. of 2019. At that time, Marvin and Mary moved to Belgrade to be closer to family.
Marvin was preceded in death by his parents, John and Maxine Douma; his sister, Eileen; and his daughter, Sandra Douma Fiegi. Marvin is survived by his wife, Mary; his daughter, Sheila (Doug) Syverson and their children, Shawn (Stephanie), Shyla, Chase (Sarah), Jaxson and Jett Syverson; his son, Curt (Cheryl) Douma and their children, Jessica and Jake; and his son-in-law, Rocky Fiegi, and his sons, Shay, Spencer and Miles.
Services have been held.
