Marian Marie (Byots) Droste, 90, passed away on Friday, March 14, 2025, at her home in Las Vegas, with her loving family. Marian was born on August 9, 1934, in Mt. Olive, the daughter of John and Catherine (Bellovich) Byots. She married Robert “Bob” Droste on April 9, 1955, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The couple retired to Las Vegas in 1996. They were married over 63 years until his passing on May 15, 2018.

She graduated from Mt. Olive High School in 1952. Marian was baptized Catholic and confirmed Lutheran in 1955 before she married Robert Droste.

Marian enjoyed traveling, watching professional tennis tournaments, and playing tennis well into her 70s. In her later years, she took pleasure in solving crossword puzzles and other word games. She liked playing card games and was a whiz at Wheel of Fortune. Her favorite pop group was the Bee Gees, and she listened to their music almost every night.

Visitation will be held Saturday, March 29, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Olive Zion Lutheran Church. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Olive Zion Lutheran Church with Pastor Zackery Krampien officiating. Burial will take place after the service at Mt. Olive Cemetery. Pall bearers will be Nicholas Rawls, Michael Byots, Jeff Ross, Bill Hittmeir, Ed Hittmeir and Mike Rademacher.

Lunch will be served following burial by the Zion Ladies at the church hall.

She is survived by her children: Alan (Rajia) Droste of Laguna Beach, California; Robyn (Rob) Simburger of Collierville, Tennessee; Jim (Laura) Droste of Porter Ranch, California. Grandchild: Erica (Nicholas) Rawls of Shawnee, Kansas; Great-grandchildren, Cassandra and Christian Rawls. Nephews: John (Josie) Hainaut of Wheaton, Illinois; Michael (Regina) Byots of Carlinville, Illinois; Stephen Droste of Bloomington, Indiana. Nieces: Juliann “Julie” Mahoney of Phoenix, Arizona; Jean Sanders of Springfield, Illinois; Jamie Hainaut Burnett of Springfield, Illinois; Jane Walchli of St. Louis, Missouri; Lee (Jeff) Ross of Gillespie, Illinois. Sister-in-Law: Mary Droste of Bloomington, Indiana.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John Byots, Sr. and Catherine Byots. Eldest brother: John “Yi-Yi” Jr. (Violet) Byots. Older brother: Joseph William “Bill” (Joanne) Byots. Older sister: Helen (Jules) “Jodo” Hainaut. Niece: Cynthia LaRosa. Nephew: Jim Byots.

Memorials may be directed to: St. Jude Children’s Hospital and American Heart Association. Online condolences to the family may be left at beckerandson.com. To send f lowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Marian Byots Droste, please visit the Becker and Son floral store.