Marsha was born and raised in Columbus, a small town in the NW ND. After graduating from high school she attended college at NDSU and graduated in l965 with a BS Degree in Home Economics. After college she was married and settled in Central ND to raise her 2 children.

In 1974 Marsha attended Jamestown College and obtained her Secondary Teaching Certification. She was employed by the ND Department of Public Instruction and wrote a K-6 Nutrition Curriculum for the State. Later she worked at the North Dakota State Hospital, where she was employed when she returned to Jamestown College to complete her Addiction Certification. She completed her practicum and internship at North Dakota State Hospital and worked in the inpatient treatment center as a LAC. In 1990 she was recruited to work at Saint Josephs Chemical Dependency Unit in Dickinson. St Joes CDU closed its doors in l99l during the period of medical insurance cuts in inpatient treatment benefits, so in the fall of l99l Marsha opened Heart River Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services.

In the l0 years working in private practice she has gained additional certifications in: Prime for Life, ND DUI Program, Under 2l, Talking to Your Kids about Alcohol, and On Campus Talking about Alcohol. She is a Clinical Supervisor and a member of the ND Addiction Counselors Association and the National Association of Addiction Counselors. Marsha is a certified facilitator for Cognitive Resucturing and a certified instructor for the Stage ll Life Management Program by Earnie Larson. In 2000 she completed her Certification as a Healing Touch Practitioner.

Marsha is a recovering alcoholic whose sobriety date is November 20, l99l. She is active in her recovery program and enjoys working with alcoholic women.

She has two grown children, Thomas William and Anne, a son-in-law Mauricio, a grandchild Eva of Portland, OR. She has two step daughters from her marriage to John Wieglenda.

Marsha ranches with her husband John and enjoys living in their l20 year old native stone home where they entertain friends and family. She enjoys her German Shorthair dog and her 3 horses She also enjoys gardening, reading, sewing and quilting.