Mardell Ione Nienas

Mardell Ione Nienas died on Saturday, November 12 at the age of 88 at Hatton Prairie Village, Hatton, North Dakota. Mardell was born in Washington Township, rural Hatton, on January 14, 1928. She was the oldest child of three children born to Marvin and Ida Rydland, a farming family. Mardell grew up during the 1930’s depression and attended elementary school in a country schoolhouse, Washington District #71. She graduated from Hatton High School and attended Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota. After deciding on a nursing career, Mardell transferred to Fairview Hospital of Nursing in Minneapolis, Minnesota graduating in 1949 with a degree in Nursing.

She worked as a nurse at Mayville’s Union Hospital until her marriage to Warren Nienas on September 30, 1951 at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church, rural Hatton. She set aside her career to raise her family and created a fun and faith-filled Christian home. She was a tremendous cook and gracious hostess turning hundreds and hundreds of family and holiday meals around the table into forever memories. Annual family vacations were a must with most to either Bemidji lakes or on camping trips. She didn’t particularly like lake cabins or campgrounds but she did it for her family. Her children went to her first with their problems and hurts; she was a compassionate listener and encourager. And Mardell had that Norwegian sense of humor – quiet, sliding in on you and deadly funny.

In 1964 the nursing home in Hatton was opening and they needed an RN to be able to start operations. Mardell was asked to be that nurse – just to help get the home going and in the spirit of community service. Thirty-five years later she retired from that nursing home, now Hatton Prairie Village. Mardell was proud of her nursing career and set a wonderful example for her children on the importance of education, a fulfilling career and balance with family life.

Mardell was an active and faithful member of the Holmes United Methodist Church since 1951. She was an original church basement lady. Mardell was accomplished at hardanger (intricate Norwegian needlework), counted cross stitch and quilting. She loved crossword puzzles, Hallmark movies and was a champion shopper. Her heart skipped a beat when QVC boxes arrived. But most of all, she loved and adored her family and masterfully cared for them. It was hard for Mardell to articulate what made her happy but she could list all the things that made each member of her family happy.

Mardell is preceded in death by her husband, her brother, Myron (Mike) Rydland, her sister, Olive Beine, and her parents.

She is survived by her children, Cynthia Tredwell, Roxanne (Daniel) Fabian, Jonathan (Cheryl) Nienas and Michael (Tamara) Nienas; her 12 grandchildren, Aaron, Mark, Erik, Jason, Tyler, Leah, Emily, Zachary, Alexander, Andrew, Joshua and Elise; 4 great grandchildren, Alexis, Jackson, Max and Maya, her sister-in-law, Gaynelle Rydland and 10 nieces and nephews. Uff da, we will miss her.

Memorials are preferred to Hatton Prairie Village, 950 Dakota Ave., Hatton, ND 58240 or Holmes UMW, 2102 2nd Ave NE, Reynolds, ND 58275.