Marjorie VanderWaal, age 84 of Brookings, died on Thursday, January 5, 2023, at the United Living Community.  Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M. on Monday, January 9, 2022, at First Presbyterian Church in Brookings with burial to follow at Greenwood Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 3:00 until 5:00 P.M. at  Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings on Sunday, January 8, 2023.  Eidsness Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Marjorie was born on July 16, 1938, in Colton, SD, the daughter of Roy and Adele (Hammer) Bebensee.  In 1943, she moved with her parents to Elkton, SD, and attended rural school in District 66 through the eighth grade and then attended Elkton High School, graduating in 1956.  After graduation she moved to Brookings, SD, and was employed at the Farmers CO-OP.  She was united in marriage to Arthur VanderWaal on September 22, 1957, in rural Elkton.  Marjorie was later employed at Pamida (Gibsons) for 16 years until the store closed, and was later employed at SDSU in the Plant Science Department until her retirement in December of 2000.

Marjorie was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and was an active volunteer in the church and hospital.  She was an avid reader, never having fewer than six books checked out at a time and read well over 15,000 books in her lifetime. Although she swore she never won, Marj enjoyed playing cards with friends and family.  She also enjoyed puzzles and games on the computer.

Survivors include her husband Arthur of Brookings; sons Brian VanderWaal (Jeff Hlavacek) of Minneapolis, Paul VanderWaal (Paul Kirkman) of Remer, MN, and Mark (Rachelle) VanderWaal of Edgerton, MN; four grandchildren; and siblings, sister Dorothy (Ralph) Harvey, Brookings, SD; and brother Roy "Butch", "Sam" (Jessie) Bebensee, Jr., Elkton, SD.

Preceded in death by parents Adele and Roy Bebensee Sr., and sisters Eleanor (Martin) Bosch and Mardella (George) Buchenau.

Memorials preferred to Brookings Public Library Welcome to Brookings Public Library, SD (brookingslibrary.org)