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In memory of

Marion Bridenbeck

Gresham, OR

May 26, 1929 - June 23, 2020

May 26, 1929 - Jun 23, 2020

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Marion Gertrude Cord was born into this world on May 26, 1929. Her parents, Lawrence James Cord and Lucille M. (Hanken), were then living in Timber Lake, South Dakota. Marion had an older sister, Rosella, born in 1924, and three more children would be born into this family. Two boys, Laverne "Vern" (born 1931, in South Dakota) and James "Jim" (born 1942, in Oregon) and one more girl, Kathleen "Kathy." (born 1939, in Oregon) Marion had retold friends and family many stories about living in South Dakota. She would recall seeing clouds of locusts attack the farm fields and strip corn and corn stalks of all green and any edible parts. She had lived through dust storms which engulfed the farm house in dust. Nothing could keep the fine dust from entering the cracks in doors and windows and covering everything inside. Farming the land was almost impossible. Finally, Marion's parents had had enough. When Marion was 5 years old, the family packed up everything they could, and moved West, eventually settling in Stayton, Oregon. Later the family moved permanently to Milwaukie, Oregon. Marion had always used music and singing to express herself. She started to sing when she was only 3 years old. She became well known within their extended family, friends, and church members for her wonderful voice. Marion sang for numerous weddings, funerals, and other special occasions, and, of course, was in choir. She also developed the art of yodeling, and loved to entertain others with this unique talent. Marion attended St. John's Catholic School, and then, later, St. Mary's Academy, graduating in 1947. With Marion's ability to make friends easily, she enjoyed a rich social life. One of her many activities, outside of music, was belonging to the Swiss American Ski Club. They held dances in the evenings, and one of Marion's tasks was to make sure newcomers felt welcomed, and encouraged them to dance. One evening, Marion noticed a new young man, sitting off to the side of the room, by himself, and watching the dancers. She welcomed him and asked why he was not dancing, That young man, was Russ Bridenbeck. He replied to Marion that he did not know how to dance. Their conversation led to Marion offering to teach Russ how to dance. Well, from there, Marion and Russ soon fell in love. Both of them have always agreed that "it was love at first sight." Marion and Russ were married in 1950, in Milwaukie, Oregon. Within the next five years, they had four children. Larry, Karl, Diane and Jan. It was a very busy household. Marion worked, also, outside the home, for many, many years. Her family was very precious to her. As their children grew up and married, grandchildren and great grandchildren were added to their extended family. Her happiest times were spent with family, just celebrating holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and other gatherings. Russ and Marion's four children had ten children among them, and some of those children have had seven children among them. Marion leaves behind her children, Larry Bridenbeck (June) of Portland, Oregon, Karl Bridenbeck, (Terri), of Albany, Oregon, Diane Davis (Scott), of Sacramento, California, and Jan Okimura, (Michael), of Granite Bay, California. Also,, Marion leaves behind her two brothers, Vern Cord, of Citrus Heights, California, and Jim Cord (Carol) of Troutdale, Oregon, and her younger sister, Kathleen Hansen (Don), of Seattle, Washington. Marion was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Lucille Cord, and her older sister, Rosella Cord Kreitzer Schuetz, who died in 2011. A Mass Memorial was held for Marion at her place of worship, St. Henry Catholic Church, in Gresham, Oregon, on July 1, 2020. Father Charles Zach presided over the services. Marion was laid to rest, after a Burial Service, on July 2, 2020, at the Willamette National Cemetery, located in Happy Valley, Oregon.

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