Marline Bird Dittburner

Marline Dittburner was born February 6th, 1932, in Cowley, Wyoming and was welcomed into this world by her parents, Ludean Schow Givenrod and Arthur C. Givenrod and her brother, Douglas. After Marline, an additional five children were born: Rodney, Eloise, Judy, Anna, and Celia.

Marline grew up in a neighborhood of many friends who joined her and her brothers and sisters spending hours playing games, climbing trees, playing ball, and swimming in the pump house swimming hole. Her family frequently went on camping trips to the Big Horn mountains and Yellowstone Park. As a lifelong learner she loved school and her teachers. She moved to Sacramento, California when she was a senior and graduated from Sacramento High School, then attended Sacramento State University where she was active in drama and music.

She later returned to Wyoming where she met and married Donald C. Fowler. Together they had two boys, Rodney and Jeffrey, but eventually divorced. Marline later met and married Delos “Del” Dittburner, who had arrived from Wisconsin to attend graduate school at the University of Wyoming, while she worked at Kassis clothing store and attended university classes. After completing his graduate work, they moved to Wheatland, Wyoming where he taught school and they added to their family with a son, Kurt, and a daughter, Kristie. They later moved to Casper, Wyoming where Del taught school then became a school administrator until retirement.

Marline really enjoyed her years of being a stay-at-home mother. She was active in her children's activities and occasionally substituted in the school district. She continued to take college courses and was later employed by the Kelly Walsh High School library until retirement. She enjoyed her time there, loved working with the kids and stayed in touch with her friends from KW.

After retirement she and Del enjoyed many good years enjoying their grandchildren and pursuing other interests, which included many golf trips, and raising yellow labrador dogs. They also enjoyed camping trips and many festive celebrations with their family. Marline spent over 20 years as a literacy volunteer once she retired. She tutored individual students and served for many years at the Juvenile Detention Center and the Casper Detention Center. She also volunteered in many different organizations that needed her help. She was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held teaching and leadership positions, including Choir Director for twenty plus years. Her favorite time of the year was Christmastime when the choir she directed performed their Christmas cantata.

Music was always important to her, and she was involved in many musical endeavors in high school, college, church, and in the community. She had wonderful memories singing in a barbershop quartet with three very close friends. She loved the mountains, especially the wildflowers, and cherished her trips to the mountains to see the early wildflowers blooming. She was always physically active having grown up a tomboy who liked to play all the games with the boys! As an adult, she played softball, enjoyed golf, and walked five plus miles per day until her knee replacement at age 88 eventually slowed her down. She thoroughly enjoyed board games, card games, and especially Bridge, and loved her weekly association with her dear friends and playing partners. She was often heard saying that she did not know what she would do without these wonderful ladies. Marline dearly loved her sisters, and they were able to have a sister reunion each year until just recently. They played numerous games, laughing and cackling for hours into the night, then attended garage sales early in the mornings!

Marline is survived by her children; Jeff (wife Barbara) of Grapevine, Texas, Kurt of Casper, Wyoming, and Kristie Perkins (husband Drew) of Casper, Wyoming; sisters, Eloise Shaffer of Thermopolis, Wyoming, Judy Green of Lovell, Wyoming, and Celia Franzman of Ogden, Utah, her two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Del, her son, Rodney, her brothers, Douglas and Rodney, and sister, Anna.

A funeral service and celebration of Marline's life will be held on Monday, April 20, 2026 at 11 AM at the LDS Stake Center Morado, 1075 Morado Dr, Casper WY 82609.