Marie Rourke

Marie passed away on July 25, 2025, at Sanford Hospice House, in Fargo, ND, surrounded by daughters Vicki and Michelle, son Brian, and daughter-in-law Kyla, at the age of 91. Marie Jeanette Rourke (Smedshammer) was born on September 17, 1933, in Fort Ransom, N.D., the daughter of Justin and Myrtle (Linn) Smedshammer. She grew up in the North LaMoure area and graduated from Litchville High School in Litchville, ND.

Marie got married in 1958 to John (Jack) Rourke. They had four children, Dawn Marie Rourke, Vicki Patricia (Mueller) Rourke, Michelle Eleanor Rourke and Brian Jon Rourke.

Marie graduated from Valley City College with a degree in teaching and worked as a schoolteacher for three years. She also worked as an assistant at various companies in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Her final position was as a clerk at Good Oil in Verona, N.D.

Marie had several bouts with cancer. Marie was first diagnosed in 1965 with Uterine Cancer and in 2002 she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Between the years 2003-2015 she was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma 5 times and 3 diagnosis of skin cancer. Her most recent diagnosis of MDS/AML was in April of 2025.

Some of Marie's favorite things were playing with her grandchildren, painting on her tablet, reading, and watching the game show network and the RFD channel. She also enjoyed going to lunch with her friends in the area, baking caramel rolls with her grandkids and sharing black licorice with her grandson-in-law.

Marie is survived by her siblings Betty (Smedshammer) Gackle, Tootie (Smedshammer) and Larry Fueler, Norris and Connie Smedshammer, and Ivan and Phyllis Smedshammer; her children Vicki (Rourke) Mueller of Ladson, S.C., Michelle Rourke of Verona, N.D., and Bud and Kyla Rourke of Perham, M.N.; her grandchildren Angie (Shannon) Kain and family of Hortonville, W.I., Lisa (Matt) Hoy and family of Savage, M.N., Dustin (Erica) Mueller and family of Ladson, S.C., Amy (Dustin) Kath and family of Lisbon, N.D., Melissa (Wayne) Noreika of Seabrook, T.X., Paige Rourke of Fargo, N.D., and Kallie Rourke of Perham, M.N.; great grandchildren, Travis Kain, Cheyanne Kain, Juliette Hoy, Mason Hoy, Amelie Mueller, Olivier Mueller, Khloe Kath and Holland Kath; and great-great grandchildren, Loavally Kain and Braylen Kain; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Justin and Myrtle (Linn) Smedshammer; siblings Erma (Smedshammer) Peterson, Inez (Smedshammer) Clegg, Ray Smedshammer, Avice (Smedshammer) Bjerke, Loretta (Smedshammer) Opdahl, Jerry Smedshammer, and Dwight Smedshammer; her husband Jack; son-in-law Joseph Mueller; and daughter Dawn Rourke.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, August 2, 2025, from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Verona, N.D. (104 6th Street, Verona N.D. 58490).

Arrangements entrusted to Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home - Fargo, ND