Marilyn McNelis

Marilyn “Meme” (Kornemann) McNelis, age 73, passed away on Saturday, February 7, 2026, after living with Alzheimer’s disease for more than a decade.

Marilyn was born in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, on September 3, 1952, to Donald and Esther Kornemann. She grew up on a sheep and cattle ranch in Albion, Montana. Despite the demands of ranch life, she adored the sheepdogs, barn cats, and especially the calves and lambs. From a young age, Marilyn’s job was to care for and bottle-feed orphaned “bum” lambs. When the work was done, she and her brothers often played games like “Pony Express.”

Marilyn attended grade school at a one-room schoolhouse in Albion. For grades 9–12, she boarded with host families in Belle Fourche during the week and returned home on weekends. At Belle Fourche High School, she met lifelong friends Lise and Sue. The three were inseparable, and Marilyn loved recalling their shenanigans on the ranch, where they rode horses and camped in a sheep wagon.

After high school, Marilyn attended Black Hills State in Spearfish, South Dakota, for two years before moving to Colorado, where she worked as a waitress with plans to enroll in an interior design program. A year later, she realized her true calling was teaching. She returned to Montana and completed her Bachelor of Education in elementary and special education at Eastern Montana College in Billings. It was there she met Kevin McNelis, her husband of nearly 50 years. They first crossed paths in a parking lot when Kevin stopped to help her catch a mouse from the trunk of her red Camaro.

Marilyn graduated before Kevin and began her teaching career in Judith Gap. She and Kevin married in 1976 at St. Paul’s in Belle Fourche and moved to Belle Creek, where they both took teaching positions. A few years later, they relocated to Anaconda, where Marilyn taught and helped develop curriculum for the special education program. During that time, they welcomed their first two daughters in 1981 and 1984.

In 1986, the family moved to Belgrade, where Marilyn taught in the Manhattan School District for the remainder of her career. Outside the classroom, she nurtured her friendships and remained active in her Catholic community, often hosting brunches after Sunday Mass. After the birth of her third daughter in 1990, Marilyn continued teaching second grade while returning to college to earn a Master of Education in computer technology. During this time, she also served as a negotiator for the Manhattan Teachers’ Union. Though naturally reserved, she became a strong advocate for her fellow teachers.

Over her 30-year career, she taught hundreds of students to read and lit up when sharing stories from her classroom. In her 2006 retirement speech, she said she looked forward to spending more time with her daughters, a promise she faithfully kept through countless evening phone calls.

Marilyn also found joy in staying active. She began jogging in her late twenties, starting one block at a time until she became a runner. Neighborhood dogs frequently joined her, and she often returned home with a small pack trailing behind. After just a year of training, she took first place and set the 5K course record at the 1980 St. Patrick’s Day Run in Anaconda.

Before having children, Marilyn and Kevin spent summers backpacking into mountain lakes with their two dogs and winters cross-country skiing with friends at Georgetown Lake. Throughout her adult life, Marilyn enjoyed long walks, pinochle, and creating beautiful flower gardens. She was known for her immaculately kept home, homemade dinners, a freezer always full of cookies, and thoughtfully curated holiday celebrations. Marilyn never turned away a stray or needy animal, once caring for three dogs, six cats, and two horses. In her early fifties, she began taking guitar lessons and was thrilled to practice with a small country band of local musicians.

Marilyn was deeply devoted to her three daughters. She nurtured each of their interests and was a constant presence at every event and game throughout their childhood. A few years before retiring, Marilyn moved her parents to Belgrade, where she and Kevin cared for them until they passed. In 2010, she lovingly became “Meme” with the birth of her first grandson, giving him the same love and energy she gave her daughters. Above all, Marilyn will be remembered for putting others first and living a life defined by grit, kindness, and generosity.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her baby boy, Ryan McNelis, born in 1988; her parents, Donald and Esther Kornemann; and her brothers, Mike and Kelly Kornemann. She is survived by her husband, Kevin McNelis; her three daughters, Kellie, Katie, and Kiera; and her four grandchildren, Sawyer, Vera, Oliver, and Emeline.

To honor Marilyn’s legacy, a memorial scholarship has been established in recognition of her lifelong commitment to education. Donations may be sent to the Manhattan Public Schools Foundation, P.O. Box 1223, Manhattan, MT 59741, or made online at www.manhattanpublicschoolsfoundation.org.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 2, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at River Rock Event Center, 101 River Rock Road, Belgrade, MT 59714. Appetizers and memorial speeches will begin at 11:00 am, followed by a luncheon from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm.