Marlene Safsten

Ardyce Marlene Bastian Safsten, known affectionately as Marlene, passed away on July 24, 2025, at the age of 86. Born in Spokane, WA on April 16, 1939, Marlene was a loving, loyal, funny, and compassionate person whose laughter and love touched everyone fortunate enough to have known her. She was a woman of unwavering faith who wholeheartedly embraced the teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

She was raised in Spokane Valley, WA. She graduated high school in Grand Junction, CO and then moved to Salt Lake City, UT. She loved learning and was so happy to be able to attend one year of college at the University of Utah. She then moved to Seattle, WA where she met her husband, Curtis Safsten. They were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple on August 16, 1961. They were blessed with seven children, Christopher Jacob, Linde, Joy, Christopher Curtis, Kristina, Erick and Heidi.

Curtis and Marlene raised their children in Redwood City, CA. After living there for 36 years, they retired and moved to Springville, UT in 1997.

Marlene's zest for life and people was evident in everything she did. She found great joy in her family, friends and church service. She was always ready with a great joke and loved to make people smile and laugh. She was a skilled seamstress, making two of her daughter's wedding dresses. She loved reading and playing word games, especially with her grandchildren.

Marlene loved music, was a ward choir director for several decades, and loved attending beautiful choir performances, especially those at BYU. She was an active member of her book club and loved to attend Relief Society. She found great joy serving in the Provo City Center Temple for eight years. Her greatest achievement, however, was raising her six children with her husband, Curtis, whom she cherished above all else.

Marlene is survived by her six children, Linde Wong (Jason) of Draper, UT, Joy Hollingshaus (Matthew) of Mapleton, UT, Christopher Curtis Safsten (Jennifer) of Mt. Airy, MD, Kristina Golightly (Shane) of Gilbert, AZ, Erick Safsten (Adrienne) of Mapleton, UT, Heidi Brady (David) of Mapleton, UT, 27 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Steve Bastian (Debra), sister Penny Lindsay, brother Dan Bastian (April) and many nieces and nephews. Marlene was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Curtis Safsten, her son Christopher Jacob Safsten, her parents, Weldon and Melba Bastian, and her siblings, Larry Bastian, Bonnie Williams and David Bastian.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at 11:00am MDT, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 245 South 600 East, Springville, Utah, 84663. A visitation will precede the service from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. MDT. Marlene will be laid to rest at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California, on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. PDT.

As we say our final goodbyes, we are reminded of a verse from the Book of Mormon that she loved, Alma 37:37: "Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day."

We invite you to share your memories and photos of Marlene on her memorial page as we celebrate her well-lived life.