In Memory of

Magdalene

"Mag"

Cordell

Obituary for Magdalene "Mag" Cordell

Magdalene “Mag” Cordell, age 94 of Brainerd MN, formerly of Watertown, SD passed away Sunday, November 25, 2018 at Woodland Good Samaritan Village in Brainerd. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 1, 2018 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Watertown. Visitation will be from 5-7:00 p.m. with a scripture service at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, November 30th, at Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown. Interment will be St. Mary’s Cemetery in Watertown.  Pallbearers will be Hannah Brueland, Samantha Kemper, Bailey Kemper, Taylor Kemper, Connor Cordell, Katherine Bertelsen and Anna Bertelsen.  Honorary pallbearers will be Sadie Cordell, Rebekah Bertelsen, Maddi Kemper and Wyatt Kemper. Magdalene “Mag” Elizabeth Cordell , daughter of Alex and Anna (Maiman) Byer, was born July 14, 1924 in Florence, South Dakota.  She grew up and attended rural school near Florence.  Mag and Robert J. Cordell were married on June 19, 1945 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Florence.  The couple farmed for 60 plus years three miles north of Watertown.  After her son’s passing, Mag lived with her daughter, Phyllis in Baxter, Minnesota and then at Woodland Good Samaritan Village in Brainerd, Minnesota.  Mag was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Watertown. She enjoyed her family, crafts, camping and traveling. Mag is survived by her daughter, Phyllis (Allan) Wikstrom of Baxter, MN; five grandchildren, Bruce Cordell of Covington, WA, Brian (Alisa) Cordell of Owatonna, MN, Laurie Bertelsen of Bryant, AR, Greg (Jane) Kemper of New Prague, MN and Becky (Bob) Borash of Breezy Point, MN; 11 great-grandchildren; one brother, Emery (Mary) Byer of Pierre, SD; one daughter-in-law, Sharon Mack of Watertown, SD; two sisters-in-law, Margery Byer of Florence, SD and Donna Byer of Rochester, MN; two brothers-in-law, Pete Aberle of Lakewood, CO and Francis Benkofske of Big Stone, SD; along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alexander and Anna Byer; her husband, Bob Cordell, who passed away March 25, 2008; her son, Leroy Cordell; six brothers, Ralph, Sylvester, Raymond, Herman, Arnold and Kenneth Byer; three sisters, Virginia Byer, Mary Jane Cordell and Edna Cordell; four sisters-in-law, Margaret Byer, Lillian Palmer, Vera Benkofske and Bonnie Aberle; and one brother-in-law, Jack Cordell.