Ase “Marie” Damm, 81, of Culbertson, MT, passed away on Friday, September 16, 2022 surrounded by her family at her home in Culbertson, MT.

Ase Marie was born September 23, 1940, to Edvard and Inger Kristiansen in Sarpsborg, Norway. In February of 1947 when Marie was 6 years old, her family left Norway and made the journey to America to homestead and farm outside of Savage, MT with her father’s uncle. She attended Larsen District 66 School through the 8th grade and then attended high school in Sidney where she graduated in 1958. Marie started working at the telephone office on the weekends while she was still in high school. This was a career she enjoyed for many years.

In November of 1958 she married Robert Damm. Together they raised three children: Brian, Robert & Shelley. In 1961 they moved to Plentywood where she continued to work as a telephone operator. In 1974 the family moved back to Culbertson to help with the family farm. In 1982 Marie and Bob purchased the Wild West Diner which is still owned and operated by her family. Marie loved visiting with the customers and long after her retirement she could be found sitting at the counter drinking coffee and visiting. No one was a stranger to Marie and she loved sharing stories with everyone she met.

Marie was an avid reader and loved to travel. She has traveled the world visiting her son in Japan numerous times and going back to Norway to visit all her relatives who still reside there. She had an adventurous spirit and will be missed by many.

She is survived by her two sons, Brian (JaeSoon) Damm of Tokyo, Japan and Robert Damm of Culbertson; her daughter, Shelley (Steve) Baldwin of Culbertson; four grandchildren, Ashlee (Luke) Anderson, Alex (Mark) Von Wald, Jesse Damm, and Elliot Damm. Four great-grandchildren, Harper & Huck Anderson; Charlotte and Eleanor Von Wald; her sister, Ann (Roland) Aldinger of Glendive, MT; brother-in-law, Leroy (Jan) Damm of Pullman, WA; an aunt Thora Kristiansen of Oslo, Norway; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years Robert J. Damm; her parents, Edvard & Inger Kristiansen and brother, Thore Kristiansen.

Memorial Contribution