Marlene Griffith

Marlene Griffith, age 94 of Spearfish and formerly of Faith, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, August 8, 2026 at her home, with her loving family by her side.

  The funeral service was held August 14, 2026 at the Faith Community Center in Faith SD with Pastor Calvin Chapman officiating.  Visitation was held one hour prior to the funeral service in Faith. Interment took place at Faith Cemetery. 

Marlene Joyce Dore was born May 27, 1932 in Sidney, Montana.  She was the daughter of George and Myrel (Lowry) Dore.  Marlene spent her childhood playing outdoors as much as she could, with cousins, friends, and her brothers, Bill and Jerry (Dean).  Being the youngest of 3 kids, and the only girl, she learned to play pretty ‘rough and tumble” even though her momma loved to dress her in frilly dresses and pretty hair bows.  Marlene’s childhood was where her love for the great outdoors began.

  The family moved to Ennis Montana in the early 1940’s, where Marlene attended school.  Her mother ran a dress shop and her dad owned and operated a grocery store on main street.  Later they moved to Ennis Lake where they owned and operated a tourism business.  Many of Marlene’s favorite memories were from Ennis Lake.  She loved horses and one day while she was riding her favorite horse and carrying glass bottles in saddle bags for recycling, she encountered a bear on the trail.  She remembered turning and running as fast as her horse would go all the way home.  Needless to say, the bottles didn’t survive the trip too well.

  Due to economic burdens during wartime, the family was forced to sell the business and make a move to Faith SD, where Marelene’s step-dad Doc MacLean operated his business.  Marlene attended high school in Faith, where she made many life-long friends, and also met the love of her life, Darrel Griffith.  In 1950 she graduated from Faith High School and following, on July 10th, Darrel and Marlene were united in marriage.  To this union, five children were born: Debbie, Jim, Terri, Doug, and Rick.  Following their marriage, Darrel and Marlene moved onto the Griffith Family Ranch, located east of Faith, and raised their family there.  Along with the ranching, they began training horses and eventually built an indoor training facility.  Their home was always buzzing with clients as they delivered and picked up their horses.  Marlene never failed to make an extra place at the dinner table for whoever might show up at mealtime.  Darrel and Marlene trained and showed horses in the SD Cutting Horse Association, where Marlene and her favorite horse, Frosty, achieved awards.  She showed off her training skills by having Frosty perform his many tricks.

  Marlene’s joy was her family and serving others.  She loved to paint and do artwork and crafts.  In later years she was known for making lamps out of iron scrap and old water pumps.  For many years she taught Sunday School and left a lasting impression with those children, and shared her love for the Lord.  She loved the Lord with all her heart and was baptized at the Church of Christ in April of 1989.  She wrote in her Bible: “The most precious and exciting event in my life – I have come to know Christ as I’ve never known Him before.”   Marlene was a special mother and grandmother, and she will be missed greatly by them all.

  Marlene is survived by her two daughters, Debbie Stewart and Terri (Phil) Kissack, both of Spearfish; 3 sons, Jim Griffith of Texas; Doug Griffith of California, Rick (Jina) Griffith of Rapid City; 10 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Darrel in 2014; grandson, Jeremy; granddaughter, Jennifer; brothers, Bill and Jerry Dore; and son-in-law, Russ Stewart.