Marilyn Gaye Barnhart

Marilyn Gaye Barnhart (Baldridge) passed away at her home on hospice care on October 29, 2026, she was 77 years old.

She was born in Lewistown, Montana on May 7, 1949. Marilyn was the youngest of five children of Merrill and Carol Baldridge. She was raised and educated most of her younger years in Moccasin, Montana. Her mother submitted her into a baby beauty contest and won when she was only 2-½ years old. Reluctantly, during her last years of school she attended Stanford High School, over a 20-minute bus drive from Moccasin, due to the Moccasin school being closed down. Her younger years were a blend of family, friends, and 4-H combined with church and some sports while she was in high school. She graduated from Stanford in 1967. Shortly after that, she attended two years of study at the Great Falls Commercial College from 1967-1969, majoring in Business.

After graduating from college, she worked as a secretary for the administrator of the Deaconess Hospital in Great Falls. She later transferred to the Patients Account Representative Department. She was there for 16 years from 1969 to 1985. The Deaconess was later to be re-named Benefis Hospital.

Beginning in January 1990, Marilyn started working for the Department of Education as a Teachers Aid. Marilyn’s first assignment was at Morningside Elementary School. The next 24-½ years were at Lewis and Clark Elementary School. She became known as the “Tic-Tac lady” by her young students. She earned this title honestly by rewarding the children with the confectioner breath mint for those that acted well on the playground as well as for those that actually may have needed them.

In Dec 1976, while she was living only a few blocks away from the then Deaconess Hospital, she met Jeffrey Reynolds Barnhart, a SSgt in the Air Force. They were married 6 months later in May 1977 in Great Falls.

Marilyn and Jeff have two boys. Their first son, Craig Michael was born in 1979. He has two sons, Brandon Michael and Alex Neil. Ryan David, their second son, was born in 1983. He has one son, Tidus David.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her two brothers, Donald and Richard; and one sister, Marian; who passed August of this year. Her sister, Helen and husband, Carl Gocksch, survive and are living in Great Falls.

The memories of her are scattered between years of Christmas parties, vacations to the East and West coast, eternal love for her family and grandsons. She will always be remembered for being the anchor for the Barnhart family. She was smart, loving, and dedicated to being the best wife and mother anyone could ask for.

Services for Marilyn will be private, and a final celebration of life will be conducted at a time yet to be determined.