Mary Madeline Overlie

Mary Madeline Overlie was born May 20, 1941 in Grafton, ND as the first of six children to her proud parents Kendall and Dorothy Simmons. Prouder yet were her grandparents, Albert & Nora Simmons as she was their first grandchild. She attended elementary and high school in Pembina, North Dakota, graduating from high school in 1959. Madeline was a high school cheerleader for the football and basketball teams. After high school she attended Mayville State Teachers College and received a two-year degree in elementary education and a BA in Art. Madeline’s first teaching experience was teaching kindergarten at Pembina Public School. In the fall of 1961, Madeline started her full time teaching career at the Little Red School House in Glendive. The following year she began teaching at Lincoln Elementary School, where she continued to teach in the same classroom for the next 33 years. During her first summers, Madeline attended Mayville to complete her BS degree in Elementary Education. She continued to take summer courses throughout her career, from instructors all over Montana and some in North Dakota. She always maintained that if she added up all of her extra credits she would’ve had a Master’s in education. Madeline loved teaching and all of her first graders at Lincoln School, retiring from teaching in the spring of 1995. During her career, Madeline was asked and joined Theta Kappa Gamma sorority of retired teachers. She was also a member of both the Glendive Education Association and the Montana Teachers Association. Madeline was also a member of Glendive’s Zion Lutheran Church and fulfilled many roles in the church. She served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, Chairman of the Fair Booth, Lutefisk Supper, the Wedding/Reception and funeral committees, Circle 5, and the altar guild. After hanging up her teaching shingle, Madeline enjoyed many other roles in the community. She became a sub teacher and got a taste of teaching different grade levels. She made the comment had she known how much fun it was teaching other grade levels she might have switched to a different grade level had she been a full time teacher. Madeline spent some time working at the Eastmont facility, formerly a residential facility in Glendive for adults with intellectual disabilities. She learned a lot while working with a whole different type of people. She maintained that after she got over the initial shock, she quite enjoyed her time there. Madeline also had many fond memories of her friends working, laughing, and stories of her ‘full-time’ extremely high-paid job at The Attic. Madeline always said it was fun to go through people’s stuff and that it was a real kick for friends and foes alike to find just the right thing for one another on its shelves. Madeline was married on June 7, 1964 to Karl Overlie at the Pioneer Methodist Church in Pembina. Madeline and Karl have one daughter, Mary Suzanne. In 1992, the Overlie’s had a second daughter, Idunn Kjartansdottir, an exchange student from Iceland. That was a full year of learning new things. After retiring from substitute teaching, Madeline and Karl became snowbirds and bought a home in Mesa, AZ. They spent their time shopping, golfing and living the good life. Madeline is remembered my many of her former students, parents, teachers and friends. Madeline was preceded in death by her grandparents Albert and Nora Simmons, parents Kendall and Dorthy Simmons (Middleton) and brother-in-law Kenneth Mosolf. She is survived by her husband Karl, daughter Mary Suzanne (Pete), sister Marilyn Mosolf, Apache Junction, AZ; brother Burt (Martha) Simmons, Lancaster, MN; Gary (Linda) Simmons, Bismarck, ND; Michael (Kathy) Simmons, Mesa, AZ; Richard (Darlene) Simmons, Pembina, ND; sister-in-law Anna Knapp of Billings, MT; and brother-in-law Fritz Overlie of Kalispell, MT and several nieces and nephews. Services for Madeline will be held on Thursday, April 3rd @ 1 pm at Ellsworth Springs Clubhouse, 652 S Ellsworth Rd, Mesa, Arizona. A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, June 30, 2025 at 11:00 AM at the Zion Lutheran Church in Glendive with Pastor Avis Anderson officiating. Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to The Greater Glendive Community Foundation. Memorial funds will be used to develop more murals around Glendive, to keep Madeline’s artsy flair alive for generations to come. Greater Glendive Community Foundation, Box 1122, GLENDIVE, MT 59330 Remembrances and condolences can be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.

Mary Madeline Overlie

May 20, 1941 - March 28, 2025

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Mary Madeline Overlie

May 20, 1941 - March 28, 2025

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support