Mardelle J. Veenstra

Mardelle J. Veenstra, 86, of Mound Valley, passed away the morning of Monday, April 4, 2022, at her home.

Mardelle Joyce Whitten was born on May 22, 1935, to William Pearl and Dorothy Lillian Henrietta (Morrical) Whitten in Kankakee, Illinois.  As a young girl, she moved with her family to Chicago Heights, Illinois, where she grew up and attended school.

She worked as a phone operator for Homewood Telephone in Homewood, Illinois, before moving to Mound Valley in 1967, where she had lived since.  For a time, she worked in the kitchen at the nursing home in Altamont.  She also worked in the laundry department at LCMC, now Labette Health.

At age 14, Mardelle was baptized in the Methodist church in Chicago Heights, Illinois.  She was currently a member of the First Baptist Church in Mound Valley.

Some favorite activities included doing beadwork, playing solitaire, working word searches and watching Westerns.  Her greatest joy came from spending time with her family.

In 1953, she and Daniel R. Veenstra were united in marriage.  The couple later divorced in 1986.

Survivors include:

Four sons – Daniel R. Veenstra, Jr., and his wife, Judy, of Mound Valley, Kansas

Joseph W. Veenstra and his wife, Alberta, of Mound Valley, Kansas

Robert A. Veenstra and his wife, Vicki, of Mound Valley, Kansas

Craig Veenstra and his wife, Shelly, of Wichita, Kansas

Twenty grandchildren

Numerous great-grandchildren

Several great-great-grandchildren

She was preceded in death by two sons, Del R. Veenstra and Herman Veenstra; one daughter, Cheryl Ann Veenstra; two great-grandchildren, Stephen and Emmanuel; two brothers; and two sisters.

The funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m., Friday, April 8, 2022, at Mound Valley Baptist Church.  Burial will follow at the Mound Valley Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, at Mound Valley Baptist Church.

Memorials are suggested to the Mound Valley Baptist Church.  These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS  67357.