Bethel Fellowship International

Marian Brodland, 78, passed away Dec. 8, 2011 in Tacoma, WA. She was born to William & Gladys Patterson on Feb. 12, 1933 in Latah, WA.

Marian grew up in a home dedicated to pastoral service and Bible teaching. The Patterson family went to Indonesia as missionaries in 1934 where Marian quickly absorbed the Indonesian culture and language. In 1942, as WWII spread to the island of Java, the Patterson family had to leave Surabaya and miraculously escaped Indonesia.

Marian attended Queen Anne High School where she excelled in her classes and played first chair saxophone in the band. Marian graduated in 1951 to attend the University of Washington and later, Bethel Temple Bible School.

In 1953, Marian married Robert “Bob” Brodland. Their first child, Karen, was born in 1954. In 1956, Bob and Marian went to Indonesia as missionaries where, shortly after their arrival, Samuel was born. They soon became the overseers of the Batu Bible School in East Java – which was originally the Surabaya Bible Institute, founded in 1935 by Marian’s father. From 1956 to 1986, Marian taught at the Batu Bible School where she became well known as an excellent Bible teacher, administrator, counselor, conference speaker, and musician. Marian taught congregational worship and led many choirs. Marian had a strong command of the Indonesian language and did live translation with ease. She also translated written material and song lyrics.

From 1986 to 1992, Bob and Marian were senior pastors of Bethel Temple in Seattle. Until the last year before her passing, Marian was active with Bob ministering in places such as Holland, Russia, Siberia, Mongolia, Malaysia, Singapore and various islands throughout Indonesia.

Marian was blessed with an exceptional memory. With her ability to recall detail, Marian could easily reconnect with people even based on a single encounter. Over the years of touching lives in such a personal way, Marian developed relationships with many that today are considered family.

Though very active, Marian always made time for her family. Marian deeply loved each grandchild and enjoyed every opportunity she had to bless them. As son-in-law and daughter-in-law, Steve and Donna felt warmly accepted by Marian. She was very special to her daughter and son, Karen and Sam. As a parent, Marian was a consistent example of what it meant to live a life dedicated to the Lord Jesus. Marian was the life-long love and support of her husband, Bob. The relationship between Bob and Marian was truly a partnership in that they ministered and worked side by side their entire life. Bob likes the way Psalm 28 serves to describe Marian – “Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house.”

Marian is survived by her husband, Robert “Bob” Brodland; son, Sam Brodland and wife, Donna; daughter, Karen Dawson and husband, Steve; grandchildren Keith, Jessica, Kelsey and her husband Clay, Elisabeth, Kathryn, and Anna; brother, Richard Patterson and his wife, Loretta; and sister-in-law, Joyce Patterson.  Marian was preceded in death by her brother, Bill Patterson.

Private family services were held with interment at Mountain View Memorial Park in Lakewood, WA.

A Memorial Service is pending for January 14, 2012.

Arrangements by Chapel of the Resurrection Funeral Home, Bothell, WA.

This entry was written by Chapel of The Resurrection, posted on December 10, 2011 at 2:30 am, and filed under Obituaries.