Nedra Mary Cornell

HAVRE - Nedra Mary Cornell, 80, passed away at her home on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014, due to natural causes. Her memorial service will be at 2 p.m. on Monday., Feb. 17, 2014, at the Turner Lutheran Church in Turner, Mont., with Pastor Ellen Ayres officiating.

Nedra was born on June 27, 1933, to Otto and Nettie (Simonson) Bengtson at the Turner Hospital in Turner, Mont., and was raised on the family farm east of Turner. She attended school in Turner, graduating in 1951 from Turner High School. She continued her education at Northern Montana College in Havre and received her Teaching Certificate from there.

She worked at Buttreys Dept. store in Havre. She taught at Eagle Rock School for a time before marrying John Boyce in Turner in 1953. A son was born to this union. John passed away in 1955.

She married Linnie Cornell, Jr. in Havre in 1956 and seven children were born to this union. They remained in Havre until 1962, when they relocated to her family farm east of Turner. They remained on the farm, working hard, until 1995, when they moved to Turner due to Linnie's health. He passed away in 2001.

Nedra remained in the Turner home until 2009, when she moved to Havre to live with her daughter, Deanna.

Nedra was a good–natured, laid-back woman, always upbeat, with a bubbly and positive attitude. She was very social, always smiling, and was great with names. She enjoyed reading, sewing, music, playing cards, camping in the Bear Paw Mountains, dancing, and playing TOC with the Wolery's. She was the family historian, organizing and collecting old family pictures. She was also a member of the ODO Club, and Women of the Evangelical Church of America.

Nedra was preceded in death by her parents, Otto and Nettie Bengtson; her first husband of two years, John Boyce; her second husband of 46 years, Linnie O. Cornell; her sister Oral and infant twin sisters; her brother Porter and infant twin brother; her brothers-in-law, Mac, Charley, and Larry Cornell and Tony Verploegen.

She is survived by her daughters, Darlene (Ron) Nelubowich, of Irvine, Alberta, Canada, and Deanna (Leon "Stooge") Lodge of Havre; her sons, Doug (Betty) Boyce of Havre, Dave (Teresa) Cornell of Hogeland, Dan (Joan) Cornell of Vaughn, Don (Connie) Cornell of Turner, Dennis (Carrie) Cornell of Hays, and Dale (Kim) Cornell of Harlem, her 23 grandchildren; her 12 great-grandchildren with one expected soon; a special cousin, Ray Bengtson of Turner and numerous, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Memorials in Nedra's honor may be made to the Turner Lutheran Church, Bear Paw Hospice - Northern Montana Health Care Foundation 406-265-1410 - or the Gift of Life House, P.O. Box 7008, Great Falls, MT 59406-7008. Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements, and you may express your condolences and memories at http://www.hollandbonine.com.