Marian Helen Corey (Wanttinen), the only child of John and Selma Wanttinen, was born on May 30, 1917, in Eveleth, Minnesota. She died peacefully on October 19, 2012, in Eagan, Minnesota, surrounded by family members.

Her parents immigrated to this country from Finland. Marian grew up speaking Finnish and learned English only when she entered kindergarten. She always was extremely proud of her Finnish "sisu" spirit and heritage.

After graduation from Eveleth High School, Marian attended the Minnesota School of Business. She worked at Diamond Iron in Minneapolis until she married Warren "Pete" Wilson Corey in 1949.

Following her marriage, she moved to Amery where she and Warren made their home. Warren and Marian generously supported their children, Robert, Barbara, and Brian, in many school and extracurricular activities – all the while emphasizing the importance of education. When all of their children became lawyers, Warren and Marian were astonished, pleased, and proud that their lessons and encouragement had the desired effect.

Marian was a partner with Warren in their service station and petroleum products business, Corey Oil Company. She was an active member of the Congregational Church, where she served as church secretary, head of the Sunday school program and proud member of the Pilgrim Circle, in addition to service in other community activities and organizations such as scouting. She provided so many delicious baked goods for church activities that when her children arrived home after school and smelled those goodies, their first words were usually, "Mom, is this for us or the church?"

In the 1950's Marian became fast friends with Margaret Cooper, another lady of similar Finnish heritage from northern Minnesota – a strong friendship that would continue for the rest of her life. For more than 50 years, they visited regularly and conversed in Finnish. Although her family did not always know what was being said, it was clear that the ladies enjoyed each other and always had a good time.

Marian, having no immediate family, embraced the large extended Corey family as her own. She and Warren welcomed several elderly Corey relatives into their home and cared for them in their final days.

After the death of her mother in 1977, Marian discovered the names and addresses of cousins in Helsinski, Finland. She quickly established friendships with them and they exchanged many happy visits back and forth over the years.

Marian loved having her children return home and after the death of Warren's mother, Edith, their house in Amery became the meeting place for many family activities, vacations and holidays. On April 16, 2012, Marian was pleased to welcome the addition of a great-granddaughter into the family, Abigail Rose, daughter of her grandson Warren of Spokane.

Marian is survived by her children, son Robert Warren Corey of Eagan, Minnesota, his wife Patricia Marie, and their two children, Elizabeth Ann, of Bozeman, Montana, and Thomas Robert, of Grand Forks, North Dakota; daughter Barbara Lynn Corey of University Place, Washington, her husband William Pierce Hay III, and her four sons, Warren Joseph, his wife Makaela, and their recent star of the show - Marian's only great-grandchild Abigail Rose, of Spokane, Washington; William Francis and his wife Amy of Puyallup, Washington; Robert Jacob of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Africa; and Ian Foster, of Seattle, Washington; son Brian Foster Corey of Minnetonka, Minnesota, his wife Diane Carole, and their two daughters, Ariel Devine of Paris, France, and Riva Marie, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, as well as numerous friends and relatives.

Funeral services will be held at Marian's beloved Congregational Church, which she joined in 1949, in Amery on Wednesday, October 24, 2012, at 11:00 a.m.

Visitation will be held at the Williamson – White Funeral Home in Amery on Tuesday, October 23, 2012, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., and again one hour before the funeral services. Internment will be at the Sand Lake Cemetery in rural St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin.