Memorial
Marjorie Delores Dryden, 97, passed away April 20, 2026. She was the daughter of Walter Benson and Vova Ringstrom, born on May 19, 1928, in Taylors Falls, Minnesota. Marjorie married Everett Dryden on January 23, 1953, in Almelund, Minnesota. Together they had three children, Mike, Patty, and David. A memorial visitation will be held at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection on Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 2:00 - 3:00 PM, followed by a memorial service at 3:00 PM. Burial will take place after the service at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.
Marjorie graduated from North Branch High School in North Branch Minnesota in 1946. She received her training to become a Radiology Technician from the Swedish Lutheran Hospital in Minneapolis in September of 1949, where she also worked for a time, before moving to Mason City, Iowa, where she worked at Park Hospital. She became a stay-at-home Mom after Mike was born and returned to work after David was in school. Marjorie then worked part-time for Sears in Cedar Rapids for 17 years in the Catalog Department. She was affiliated with the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Marion, Iowa, being one of the church's earliest members.
The most important things to Marjorie were family and friends and she found immense joy in the Boston Terriers she and Everett had through the years. She was also proud of her Scandinavian heritage. Marjorie was a Camp Fire Girl leader and volunteered in many other ways at church and local food banks. Through volunteer work with the Council on Aging Program, she started visiting an elderly couple that became like family to her, Everett, and their kids. Marjorie enjoyed the outdoors and spending time around lakes in Minnesota and Wisconsin every summer. She loved to use her hands creating crafts of all kinds, especially knitting, quilting and embroidery. She enjoyed the quilting and knitting groups at LCR. She loved to read until her eyesight made that difficult in recent years. She attended ISU football and basketball games with Everett and Mike. Marjorie and Everett were always on the go. Mystery trips, family reunions in Kansas with Everett's family and many trips to the Big 12 tournament were favorite things. Marjorie enjoyed spending time with friends, playing cards and sharing a cup of coffee. She and Everett found it important to visit friends who were ill or having a rough patch. Even though her health caused a move to assisted living, and eventually long-term care, she enjoyed visitors and being out amongst others to enjoy music or an activity.
Marjorie was preceded in death by her husband, Everett Dryden; her parents, Walter and Vova (Ringstrom) Benson; and one sister, Lorraine Higgins.
She is survived by her children Mike Dryden of Cedar Rapids, IA, Patty (Bob) Waters of Ames, IA, and David (James Johnson) Dryden of Simpsonville, SC; 5 grandchildren, Ben (Chloe Liu) Waters of Chicago, IL, Alexis Waters of West Des Moines, IA, Nick Waters of Ankeny, IA, Abby (Zack) Inge of Monroe, NC, and Josh (Paige) Johnson of Charlotte, NC; and three great-grandchildren, Jessie, Brooks, and Annie Inge.
Memorials may be directed to Lutheran Church of the Resurrection.