Myrna E. (Cording) VandeDrink, 88, formerly of Galena, IL, died at Samaritan Bethany Nursing Home, in Rochester, MN, on Saturday, March 12, 2016.

Funeral Services will be at 11 A/M, on Saturday, March 19, 2016, at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, in Schapville, IL, where friends may call in the church gathering area from 9:30 A/M to 10:45 A/M, prior to the funeral service. Burial will be in Shepherd of the Hills Cemetery, St. John's location, with Pastor David Vidler officiating at the funeral and graveside.

The Miller & Steinke Funeral Home, of Galena, is in charge of arrangements.

Myrna (Cording) VandeDrink was born on the Hesselbacher family farm, near Scales Mound, on June 21, 1927, the daughter of Fred and Louise (Scheele) Hesselbacher. She graduated from Scales Mound High School with the class of 1945.

On November 27, 1945, she was united in marriage to Arthur J. Cording, and they farmed in Guilford Township on the family farm located on Cording Road. Their love for farming and boundless energy brought great success as Art and Myrna received the Illinois Farmer of the Year Award in 1957 and Illinois Prairie Farmer Master Farmer Award in 1968. In June of 1968, Art died in an auto accident and Myrna was hospitalized with severe burns for five (5) months in St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester, MN.

Myrna returned to the farm in November, 1968, and began a long recovery from her injuries. Her dauntless spirit and unwavering faith in God led the way as she returned to playing the piano and organ, quilting dozens of beautiful quilts, stitching flawless counted cross stitch pictures, and actively participating in the church activities of Shepherd of the Hills, particularly the WELCA women's group, the church choir, and the quilter's group. She was also employed as Guilford Township Tax Assessor and clerk in the records department of the Galena Stauss Hospital and later Midwest Medical Center.

In 1976, she married Edward VandeDrink. They enjoyed time with their grandchildren, playing cards, fishing on Apple Canyon Lake, and traveling together until his death on December 10, 1990.

Surviving are a daughter, Sandra (Larry) Schmidt, of Rochester, MN; two (2) sons, Larry (Sue) Cording, of Galena, IL and Gary (Gail) Cording, of Dubuque, IA; six (6) grandchildren, Tammy (Dave) Hagstrom, of Rochester, MN, Wendy (Matt) Snyder, of Spring Valley, MN, Jason (Theresa) Schmidt, of Sartell, MN, Troy (Rebecca) Cording, of Peshtigo, WI, Kimberly (Douglas) Kuhlman, of Inverness, IL, and Marcy (Chuck) Fritter, of Herndon, VA; fifteen (15) great-grandchildren, Emily, Elaina, Natalie, Naomi, Kevin and Kayless Hagstrom, Bradly, Isabelle, and Jeffrey Snyder, Lily and Gabe Schmidt, Alexandria and Jacob Cording, and Aaron and Justin Kuhlman; two (2) sisters-in-law, Leila Kirkhart, of Ottumwa, IA, and Kay Hesselbacher, of Apple River, IL; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents; four (4) brothers, Ralph Hesselbacher, Glenn Hesselbacher, Adam Hesselbacher, and Loren Hesselbacher; two (2) sisters, Eleanor Winter and Viola Sigafus; a brother-in-law, Eldon Cording; and a sister-in-law, Helen Kern.

Myrna treasured the 23rd Psalm. She recited it from memory and clung to its promise in Vs. 6, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.millerfhed.com