E. Mardell Lindberg

E. Mardell (Kvitne) Lindberg

CELEBRATING THE LIFE

OF MARDELL LINDBERG

E. Mardell (Kvitne) Lindberg, daughter of Sam and Martha (Hauge) Kvitne, was born on June 13, 1932, at the family home in Grand Forks, ND. She was baptized as an infant by Rev. Stromme at her mother's home church, Buxton Lutheran in Buxton, ND.

As a girl, she enjoyed playing with paper dolls, skipping rope with her friends and helping her mother in the kitchen. When she was nine years old, her father surprised her with the gift of white leather shoe skates. She took to the ice and became an excellent skater. Her heroine was the Norwegian Olympic Figure skating champion, Sonja Henni.

She attended public grade, middle and high school in Grand Forks and graduated from Central High School in 1950. Mardell matriculated at the University of North Dakota where she majored in home economics and dietetics. She was very active in the Lutheran Student Association on campus and was elected Mission Secretary when another student, Duane Lindberg, from East Grand Forks was elected President. According to oral tradition, Duane called frequent executive meetings of the LSA officers.

During her college years, Mardell was also active in regional and national LSA events as well as dancing in Orkisis (ballet) and in student Dietitian and Home Economics Clubs.

On June 5,1954, she graduated from the university and the next day was united in marriage to a fellow graduate and Army Lieut., Duane Lindberg. The couple spent their honeymoon in Wilmington, DE, where Duane was employed with the DuPont Company as a research chemist. When her husband was called to active military duty, Mardell interned at Hines Veterans Hospital in Chicago and later served as a dietitian at hospitals in Minneapolis and Waterloo. Mardell was also an active Volunteer in the Allen Hospital Auxiliary and served as President of the Auxiliary in 1996.

Her skills as a dietitian and homemaker served her and her family well when her husband answered God's call to the ministry. Her gracious kindness had a very positive effect not only on the family but also on the parishes they served in Williston, ND, Epping/Wheelock, ND, West Union, Traer, Holstein and Waterloo. She has been a resident of Waterloo since 1978 when her husband was called to serve Trinity Lutheran Church. She counted it a privilege to serve her Lord Jesus Christ as a member of Trinity and later at Ascension Lutheran Church.

Mardell was the proud Mom to five beautiful children. The first arrived when they lived at Fort McClellan, AL, two more joined the family in Minneapolis-St. Paul, and the youngest were born in Williston. Her beautiful smile and her kindness were like a warm light shining out from the parsonage in each parish where she and her husband served.

She was an avid Bible student and taught the Bethel Bible Series for several years. She also wrote a Bible study guide for the Women of Life of the American Association of Lutheran Churches, entitled, "God's Encouraging Word". She was a faithful Sunday school teacher, assisting with the confirmation programs and was an active member of the women's groups in each congregation they served. Mardell also advised the national Women of Life Board of The AALC for several years.

In addition to her involvement in the life and ministry of the congregations they served, Mardell was a strong supporter of Christ-centered education, especially for the Eastern Iowa Lutheran High School Association and of Valley Lutheran School. She was also an active member of Sons of Norway, charter member of Ascension Lutheran Church and passed on to family and friends her cherished Scandinavian baking skills.

Mardell loved to travel. When the family was young, trips were camping adventures, visiting historic sites and national parks in the U.S. and Canada. In later years, she visited family and friends in Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Hawaii and Australia. She also traveled with her husband to visit The Church's mission fields in Papua New Guinea, Singapore and Hong Kong. She had a deep respect for her ancestral roots in Norway and was able to travel to Norway and other European countries on several occasions.

She also had the privilege of nurturing her five children, Erik (Betty), Pine Island, MN, Karen (Kevin) Kelle, Rochester, MN, Karl (Lori), Clive, IA; Martha (Doug) Stone, Cedar Falls, IA, and Kristian John, Waterloo. She was also proud to be "Bestemor" (Grandmother) to 11 precious grandchildren,

Andrew, Minneapolis, Dr. Tova Brown, Milwaukee, WI, Sarah Green, Cedar Falls; Emily Lindberg, Minneapolis, Elizabeth Weidenbacher, Clive, IA, Ben Lindberg, Bagley, Minnesota, John Stone, Chicago, IL, Ruth Lindberg, Sau Paulo, Brazil, David Stone, Madison, WI, Kara Krajewski, Rochester, Grace Kelle, Milwaukee.

Mardell was also privileged to bear the title of "Oldemor" (great grandmother) to eleven beautiful great-grandchildren, Clayton, Marcel, Ian, Caleb, Selah, Madeline, Riley, Cora, Lucy, Ezra, and Maya.

She is survived by her husband, Pastor Lindberg, five children, 11 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren, as well as a sister-in-law, extended family and many friends.

May the Lord Jesus Christ bless her memory among her family, friends, congregations and in the communities where she served!

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

Celebration of Life Services will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at Ascension Lutheran Church, located at 2211 Maynard Ave., Waterloo, IA. Public visitation will be Monday, March 24, 2025, from 4 until 6 p.m., at Ascension Lutheran Church. Visitation will continue for one hour before services on Tuesday. Burial will take place in South Bethany Cemetery, Grand Forks, MN at a later date.

Memorials may be directed to Valley Lutheran School or Ascension Lutheran Church.

Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service on West Ridgeway is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.hagartywaychoffgrarup.com.

Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service