Marilyn B. Hutchinson
February 2, 1932 ~ March 9, 2022
Marilyn B. Hutchinson, 90, of Lincoln, passed away on March 9, 2022, in Lincoln. Marilyn has arranged to donate her body to the Anatomical Board of the State of Nebraska. Memorial Services will be held 11:00 A.M. on Monday, April 11, 2022, at Wyuka Funeral Home with Debbie Way officiating. A reception will follow the service in Wyuka’s Garden Room. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to either Nebraska Public Media by visiting https://donate.nebraskapublicmedia.org/ or to the Neighbors Church 575 Fallbrook Blvd. #102 Lincoln, Ne 68521. The service will be livestreamed and can be viewed HERE.
Marilyn Ann Burton was born February 2, 1932, in Grand Island, NE, to Wilburn Francis Burton and Maude Frieda Andersen Burton. She attended public schools in Kearney, NE (K-12). During high school she was secretary of the student council, on Girls Club Council, National Forensic League, National Honor Society, state president of Y-Teens and Kearney’s delegate to Cornhusker Girls State. She was appointed to serve as State Chemist and was co- valedictorian of her class in 1950. She was also winner of the State Elks Scholarship and the scholarship to a church-related college in Nebraska.
On September 3, 1950, Marilyn married Duane D. Hutchinson in the Methodist Church in Pauline, NE, where Duane was student pastor. He transferred to Hastings College where she was already registered and together, they attended there in 1950-51. Marilyn won the Freshman Oratorical Contest for which she received an additional scholarship. Duane continued at Hastings College the next year while Marilyn taught grades 5-8 in the Pauline Public School. Duane transferred back to Kearney State Teachers College the next year for his last semester and graduated there in January 1953. Their first son, Stephen Kent, was born November 10, 1952.
They then moved to Dallas, TX, where Duane attended Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University and graduated in 1956. During that time Duane served a church near Lewisville, TX, and Marilyn graduated with honors in 1955 from Texas State College for Women.
The Hutchinson’s then moved to Chicago where Duane worked toward a doctorate in theology and counseling at the Divinity School of the University of Chicago. During that time, he also served the three churches of the Kankakee Parish in Indiana. Marilyn taught fifth grade in nearby Ray Elementary School and then served as secretary at the University of Chicago Nursery School.
In September 1957 Duane accepted appointment to the Methodist churches in Chester and Hubbell, NE, which he served until June 1961 when the family moved to Lincoln, NE.
Marilyn graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1970 and started her 33 years of law practice: three years in the private firm of Cline, Williams, Wright, Johnson and Oldfather, one year as clerk to Nebraska Supreme Court Justice Hale McCown, and 29 years as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Nebraska. She was honored by the Women and Law Section of the Nebraska State Bar Association 2009 “in recognition of her outstanding contribution to advancing the rights women law.”
Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband; mother; father; son James, and sisters Darlene Smith and Marlys Nelson.
She is survived by son Stephen Hutchinson and wife Susan; Daughter-in-law Nona Hutchinson Dana and husband Roger Dana; four grandchildren and spouses: Katherine and Richard Gluckselig; Claire and Christoph Kofler; William and Betsy Hutchinson; and Wesley James Hutchinson; six great-grandchildren: Clara and Amelia Gluckselig; Thomas and Liam Kofler; Alice and Jane Hutchinson.
Hutchinson Family:
Sorry for your loss, such a beautiful lady. We will miss her too.
The Neemann Family!
Dear Hutchingson family,
I am very sorry for your loss. As a law clerk and young attorney at the Nebraska Department of Justice, I really enjoyed working with Marilyn. She was always so kind and thoughtful. She was a living embodiment that you can disagree (and be a strong advocate) without being disagreeable. She was thoughtful and considerate over everyone in the office. A class act. It is said we love people not for who they are, but for how they make us feel about ourselves. Marilyn made everyone feel important and appreciated.
Sincerely,
Perry Pirsch
I whole-heartedly concur with the thoughts of Mr. Pirsch. I too was a law clerk for the Attorney General’s Office back around 1997-98. Marilyn’s smile and warm personality always made the law clerk’s feel welcome and appreciated. She treated us as peers and not just underlings. We all learned a lot from Marilyn about how to treat others and how to go about our business. She is and always will be a beautiful soul.
I worked with Marilyn on NSBA’s 1st 100 Women Lawyers history project. She was a mentor, uber smart and wonderfully funny. I wished I had reached out to her again after I moved away. Much love to her and her whole family.
When I worked my way through my first 3 years at the U of NE from 1963 to 1967, Duane was the pastor at Wesley Foundation on campus. I first knew Marilyn then since, as a Lincoln student who ‘commuted’ by city bus, Wesley Foundation became my ‘home away from home’! In “later” life, both Marilyn and I became lawyers and re-connected, not as colleagues, but more as old friends. It was an honor when she became our Women and the Law choice as ‘Woman Lawyer of the Year’!! She was such a kind and extraordinary woman. She later contacted me with “memories” of those 60’s days as she went through their ‘document library’ after Duane’s death. I was very touched by her sharing from those days long ago!
I concur with other comments, especially Cheryl. She so deserved the Women and the Law award. She was an inspiration, a role model, and a truly fine person.
I worked for ten years with Marilyn in the AG office. She was a valued member of the office but more importantly a wonderful person. Her friendliness and good humor was often a good respite from the sometimes difficult issues we dealt with. She was always upbeat and friendly. I was blessed to have her as a friend.
I am very sorry for your loss. I met Marilyn when I was a law clerk at the Attorney General’s Office in the early 90s. She was so kind and gracious to everyone.
Dave and I were active at the Wesley Foundation in the late 60’s, and we so appreciated Duane’s leadership. We also appreciated getting to know Marilyn. I remain in awe of Marilyn’s determination to attend law school and launch a legal career; what a powerful role model to so many! Heartfelt sympathy to Marilyn’s family….
I am saddened to learn of Marilyn’s death. I served with Duane at the Wesley Foundation in 1966-67. Marilyn was most gracious to Sherry and me. As time passed, there was always the Christmas greeting from the Hutchinsons. Upon Duane’s death we stayed in touch and from time to time when I was in Lincoln I would go by to check in with her. We both loved campus ministry and worked to maintain the legacy at 640 N. 16th.
Very sorry to learn of Marilyn’s passing just now. I became acquainted with her and Duane through Pauline contacts, and she was very helpful to me in sharing her memories for my Pauline history writing. Blessings to you, Stephen, Susan, Nona, Roger and your families.
Carla Post
Pauline Area Historical Society