Marilyn Goates

Obituary for Marilyn Wiberg Goates

Marilyn Wiberg, born October 27, 1931, in Riverton, Utah, to Reuben Magnus Wiberg and Maurine Clark Wiberg, passed away on September 3, 2025, in Ogden, Utah. She was 93 years old.

Marilyn was the third of five children and the only daughter. She remembered a childhood full of self-made fun. Times were tough and money scarce, but many of her childhood stories feel plucked from idyllic Norman Rockwell scenes.

Marilyn liked school and from a young age planned to become a teacher. When she shared that ambition with a particularly onerous grade school teacher, her teacher laughed, telling her it would never happen. But after graduating from Weber High School, Marilyn attended Weber Junior College and then Brigham Young University, leaving with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.

She taught in South Jordan, then paused her career to serve a church mission in Illinois and Wisconsin. After returning home, she taught kindergarten and first grade at East Millcreek and Canyon Rim Elementary in Salt Lake City. It was during this time that she met LaMar Phillips Goates. After a six-month courtship, they were married on July 21, 1961, in the Salt Lake City Temple. They shared 52 years of marriage before his passing on July 24, 2013.

After their first child Karen was born, LaMar returned to Brigham Young University to complete his education. During those years, Marilyn supported him while raising their growing family, welcoming Eldon, Elaine, and Renae during the five years LaMar was in school. Their life then followed LaMar’s career with Hewlett-Packard, first with a year in Palo Alto, California, then seven years in Loveland, Colorado, and finally settling in Boise, Idaho, in 1975, where LaMar worked at the newly built HP campus. In Colorado, Annette and Nathan were born.

A faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Marilyn held numerous stake and ward callings throughout her life, including leadership roles in the Primary, Boy Scouts, Relief Society, and two stake genealogy libraries. In 1997, Marilyn and LaMar accepted a mission call to the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Mission, where they worked in the mission office. Upon returning to Boise, they served two additional missions in the Boise, Idaho Mission, and also worked with church members in the Idaho State Penitentiary.

Besides church service, Marilyn was engaged in her community. In 1990, as part of the Idaho State centennial celebrations, she accepted a position as secretary to the committee planning the new Boise City Plaza development. She also served decades with Boise Tuesday Musicale, many years as an officer.

Marilyn was a passionate gardener, a committed daily walker, and an active reader. She loved playing games and doing puzzles. She was a dedicated pianist and organist, and taught piano lessons for 37 years. She was exceedingly loyal to her parents, siblings, husband, children, and grandchildren. She celebrated their achievements and mourned with them through their personal tragedies.

Marilyn is survived by five of her children: Karen, Eldon, Elaine, Renae, and Nathan. She was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Annette.

Marilyn was also preceded in death by her parents, Reuben Magnus Wiberg (1899-1964) and Maurine Clark Wiberg (1899-1984), her four brothers, and her husband, LaMar. She is survived by 19 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Pleasant View 14th Ward, 3035 N. 1325 W., Pleasant View, Utah. A viewing will precede the service at 9:30 a.m. Services will be livestream though the link below.