Mary Ida Hendrickson

Mary Ida Hendrickson was born August 21, 1921 at her parents’ farm just west of Corning on old highway 34 and passed away on Saturday, April 11, 2020 at 98 years old. She attended 12 years of school at Corning and graduated with the class of 1938. She was one of the first members of the Corning High School National Honor Society, along with 16 other graduating seniors. After graduation she worked part time at a ‘five and dime’ store on main street. Mary then worked for the Charles Scott Produce Company for several years. She also worked at the Triple A Farm Office where she met her future husband, Lester Hendrickson of Grant, IA. They were married on January 5, 1944 in Greenfield with Dean and Hazel Hand as attendants. After marriage Mary became a farm housewife and helped out wherever needed. Three children were born to this union, Phyllis Ann, Marilyn Jane and Dennis Paul. After the family was raised Mary worked at the Congregate meal site in Corning for 25 years. Mary and Lester lived on a farm South and East of Grant, IA, for many years, enjoying time spent with neighbors and card clubs. She always kept a neat and clean house, but never enjoyed working in a garden!
Lester passed away in 1976. The family then moved to Corning, where Mary remodeled her mother Mildred Gillet’s home, and lived with her until her passing in 1982. Mary and her daughters lived in Corning for 35 years until she moved to assisted living in Des Moines in 2012 to be closer to family. She was quite capable until the last three months, when she moved to the nursing home floor of her facility. We would especially like to thank the staff of Arbor Heights Assisted Living who so kindly and generously helped her through her years there.
Preceding her in death were her husband Lester, her daughters Phyllis and Marilyn, her father and mother, Faye and Mildred Gillett, a sister Florence Smith and husband Ralph, other nieces and nephews, friends and relatives. Left to honor her memory are her son, Dennis (Melinda) Hendrickson of Urbandale, IA, grandchildren Brandon Hendrickson of Baton Rouge, LA and Kiersten Johnson (Nicholas) and great grandchildren Brianne and Brenton Johnson of Indianola, IA, and other family and friends.
Memorials can be directed to the family.