Marilyn Lee (Dale) Boswell, 91 of Aledo, IL, passed away on Saturday, January 3, 2026, in Davenport, IA, after a short, intense battle with cancer. Memorial Services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, January 10, at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Aledo, IL, with visitation starting at 9 a.m. A fellowship luncheon will follow the service. Speer Funeral Home, Aledo, is assisting the family. On Monday, January 12, there will be a visitation and lunch at the Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home in Nevada, IA, from 12 to 2 p.m., followed by a graveside service at Nevada Municipal Cemetery. Memorials may be left to Trinity Presbyterian Church, Mercer County Senior Center, Mercer County YMCA, or the United Methodist Church, Nevada, IA.
Marilyn was born on November 18, 1934, in Pleasanton, IA, to Alan and Wynema (Davis) Dale. Marilyn was an only child. She graduated from Leon, IA, High School in 1953 and Simpson College in 1957 with a bachelor’s in education. While a senior in high school, Marilyn met Eldon Boswell on a blind date. They were married in 1956. Marilyn taught school while Eldon was earning his degree at Iowa State University. They lived in several communities in Iowa before settling on the farm in Nevada, IA, where they lived for 37 years before moving to town. Marilyn worked and retired from Iowa State University, where she served the College of Agriculture in student scheduling.
Marilyn and Eldon enjoyed traveling. Through their travels, they visited all 50 states and all 7 continents. They prioritized annual vacations with the extended family. In 2016, Marilyn and Eldon moved to Aledo, IL, where Marilyn was active with her family, playing cards, PEO, a PEO book club, the Senior Center, and an exercise class at the YMCA. Marilyn was a lifelong Christian and faithfully attended church and read her Bible. Marilyn had many friends and was interested in their lives.
Eldon and Marilyn enjoyed almost 64 years of marriage before Eldon passed in 2020. Family was the most important thing to Marilyn. She is survived by two sons, Dale (Donna) of Aledo, IL, and David (Jennifer) of Humboldt, IA. Also surviving are five grandchildren, Alan (Nastasya), John (Dana), Mark, Madison (Doug), and Allison (Rick), and six great-grandchildren, Millie, Calvin, Blair, Kai, Koan, and Kit.