Marcene Puhlmann
Marcene F. Puhlmann, 82, of Scottsdale, AZ, passed away on August 29, 2025.
She was born in Fargo, ND on December 19, 1942. She lived on the family homestead
farm outside of Kulm, ND until the age of three when her family moved to town. She
graduated from Kulm High School in 1960. After graduation, she attended Moorhead
State College in Moorhead, MN. On July 1, 1962, she married her high school
sweetheart, Adolph W. Puhlmann and raised two children in Moorhead.
Marcene began her early career life as a model promoting products through
commercials, at live events and on the runway. In 1966, she earned recognition as
North Dakota model of the year. Her early career included managing the front office at
Zbacnik Dental in Moorhead. Then later, 1st International Bank in Fargo, created a
position for her as their account representative for themed promotional events.
In 1989, hoping to escape the frozen northland of Minnesota, Marcene and Adolph
moved to Scottsdale, AZ where she continued her love of fashion and customer service
as a sales associate at Dillard’s Department Stores. She continued to work there until
she retired in 2014.
Marcene was a lifelong avid golfer and served as the President for the Village Green
Ladies Golf League in Moorhead. She loved music and never missed celebrating an
episode of the Lawrence Welk Show, often with her canine companions sitting close-by.
Her positive outlook, energy and enthusiasm for life were contagious and her fun-loving
nature made her a continual source of joy to all those who knew her. Above all, her
greatest love was the her love for the Lord and sharing that unconditional, unwavering,
faith in action love with her family.
Throughout her life, she was a member of the First Congregational Church, Kulm, ND,
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Fargo, ND and Community Church of Joy in Glendale,
AZ.
Marcene was married 39 years and is preceded in death by her husband, Adolph, her
parents Harry and Olga Isaak, her mother-in-law and father-in-law Magdalena and
Walter Puhlmann and her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Hertha (Louis) Timm.
She is survived by her children; son, Todd of Phoenix, AZ and daughter, Tonja
Puhlmann and her husband Wes Triplett of Scottsdale, AZ; sisters, Sonja (Larry)
Jenkins of Fort Collins, CO and Sheila (Bill) Korbitz of Fordland, MO; sister-in-law Marie
(Dick) Stevens of Fargo, ND; and 9 nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, September 12th at
Messinger Pinnacle Peak Mortuary, 8555 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd., Scottsdale, Arizona.
Interment will be at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City. In lieu of flowers, a memorial in
honor of Marcene with Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan’s Purse is