Marlene Jane Janko passed away on 11/19/25 at the age of 85.

Funeral services will be Monday, November 24, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.

Marlene was born on February 25, 1940, to William & Ellen Kylmanen Janko on the family farm in Kintyre, ND. She was the oldest of 5 children. She attended Bismarck High School & graduated from Concordia College.

She married Orv Alveshere in 1961 & they had 3 children: Connie, Cheri, & Terry. Her kids were her priority. She settled them into new places as they moved around as a military family in the early years. They moved to Bismarck around 1967. When the kids were in school, she served as a room mother for all 3 kids’ classrooms & taught Sunday School. She graciously welcomed numerous family members into her home over the years, accommodating them for weekends or extended stays.

As her kids got a little older, she rejoined the workforce as a kindergarten teacher at a daycare. She loved the job & kids, & the kindergarten kids loved “Mrs. A”. When the daycare closed, she worked for Vital Records and then settled into Disability Determination Services for the remainder of her career. She made several lifelong friends at work. She took pride in her work & easily learned medical terminology & outcomes from her discussions with the advising physicians. She felt this knowledge helped her make better decisions at work & about her own health.

Marlene kept in touch with many friends & relatives. She was known for her infectious laugh that often made it difficult for her to finish a funny story. She had the gift of gab which allowed her to connect with just about anyone. It was not uncommon to hear stories about someone she met in line at the store or while out walking. She even developed a friendship with a couple visiting ND from France that she met in passing & they stayed in touch between countries.

Marlene created many special memories with her grandkids. She hosted many cousin sleepovers. She picked up the grandkids after school on occasion & this usually involved stopping somewhere for a treat, like a Coke float, or enjoying her famous scotcharoos. She enjoyed playing games & cooking/baking with the grandkids. She attended their Sunday School programs, band & choir concerts, parades, art shows, track meets & games. She always brought her camera & needed a picture of the star of the show. When her grandkids had their own kids, she became a proud great grandma. She often shared stories & pictures of her grandkids & great grandkids with family & friends.

Marlene is survived by her kids, Connie (Chuck) Hruby, Cheri (Rich) Greff, Terry (Chanell) Alveshere; Grandchildren, Heather (Jeff) Pipkin, Matt (Nikki) Hruby, Alex (Jenna) Greff, Alyssa (Austin) Meuchel, Brandon Alveshere, Christopher Alveshere; Great Grandchildren, Aleah, Adelynn, Eloise, Finn, Ainsley, Dominic, Jonah, Aurora; Brother, Bill (Yvonne) Janko; Sister, Jeanette (Lyle) Petersen; Sisters-in-law, Michelle Janko & Phyllis Janko; many nieces & nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents & brothers, Jesse & Chuck.

Marlene leaves behind cherished memories, a devoted family, and countless friends whose lives were enriched by her presence. Though she may no longer be with us in person, her spirit will live on in the hearts of those who loved her.