Mardella Cook, 97
Mardella C. Cook, 97
Mardella C. Cook, 97, of Brandon, SD died Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017 at Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley, Iowa. Her committal service will be held Friday, Oct. 13 at Brandon Lutheran Cemetery, followed by a memorial service at 2 p.m. at Brandon Lutheran Church. Visitation begins at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12 at George Boom Funeral Chapel in Brandon, where the family will greet friends from 5-7 p.m.
Mardella Christensen, daughter of Oliver and Caroline (Nelson) Christensen, was born Oct. 29, 1919 in Vienna, S.D. She grew up there. Mardella attended Aaker Country School in Pleasant Township, Clark County and graduated from Vienna High School in 1938. She earned her Teaching Certificate from Sioux Falls College in 1940. Mardella taught at Anderson Country School in Clark County. She then taught elementary grades in Egan, S.D., and later in Arlington, S.D.
Mardella was united in marriage with Ralph Cook on Aug. 25, 1946. She continued her teaching career in Miller, S.D., for two years and Flandreau, S.D., for 11 years. The family moved to Brandon, S.D., in 1959. Mardella served as a substitute teacher for the Brandon Valley School District for the next 25 years before retiring in 1985. In addition, Mardella worked as a distributor of the Sioux Falls Argus-Leader for 21 years. She moved to the Community Memorial Health Center, Hartley, Iowa, in September of 2016.
Mardella was an active member of Brandon Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday school, Bible school and was involved in Circle and WELCA.
Grateful for having shared her life are two children, Duane Cook, Apple Valley, Minn., Onalee Wright and her husband, Russell, Spencer, Iowa; three grandchildren, Trent Cook, Broomfield, Colo., Brianna Wright Johnson and her husband, Jared, Sheldon, Iowa, Tamara Cook Buckner and her husband, Joshua, Apple Valley, Minn.; three step-grandchildren, Russell Wright Jr., Tracy Fitzgerald and her husband, Travis and Kelly Wright, all of Spencer, Iowa; three great-grandchildren, Paisley Buckner, Nora Buckner and Lily Johnson; eight step-great-grandchildren, Jesse Wright, Nicholas Wright, Talen Buchanan, Trey Buchanan, Alanna Salmans, Wyatte Salmans, Peyton Wright, Austin Fitzgerald; and many other relatives and friends.
Mardella was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph, on July 15, 1994; a daughter, Marlys Cook; her parents; two brothers, Norman Christensen, Carroll Christensen; a foster brother, Joe Clove; and two foster sisters, Ella Huepel and Selma Johnson.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Mardella’s memory to the Brandon Lutheran Building Fund.
For online condolences, visit georgeboom.com.
