Marvis Jean Hendrickson

Marvis Jean Hendrickson, 100, passed away on Sunday, November 3, 2024, at a local nursing home in Sioux City, Iowa. 

Funeral service will be held on Sunday, November 10, 2024, at 3:00 pm at Christy-Smith Funeral Homes, Morningside Chapel with a visitation from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Her final resting place will be Memorial Park Cemetery. 

Marvis was born on October 9, 1924, in Sioux City, Iowa, to Joseph and Zelpha (Pippette) Earith. She was the eldest of three daughters. They grew up in the family home that still belongs to their family since 1923. Marvis graduated from East High School and received her degree from the National Business Training School in 1942. She went on to work for Security National Bank and Livestock National Bank in Sioux City, and later Mechanics National Bank in Trenton, New Jersey. 

Marvis met Walter Hendrickson during World War II while he was stationed at the Sioux City Airbase in 1943. She worked weekends at the Base USO. After the war, Marvis returned home and worked in the Credit Department at Sears and Roebuck for five years. Walter, likewise, returned home to Trenton, New Jersey, but returned to Sioux City to reunite with Marvis. The couple were married at Grace United Methodist Church on May 1, 1948, and had two daughters: Dorothy and Kimberle. 

Marvis always loved flowers and made several trips to her sister in Minneapolis to visit their many flower shops. In 1963, with the encouragement of her parents and her husband, Marvis rented the old Blackstone Hardware location on Morningside Ave. and opened Hendrickson’s Flowerland. She spent many happy years doing what she loved the most. Walter went on to have a long career in City Sales at Swift & Company before joining Marvis at Flowerland until his passing in 1980 at the age of 60. Marvis retired in 1987.

After retirement, Marvis kept herself busy by traveling and staying involved in her community. Marvis traveled to 15 European counties, and visited England many times as it was the mother country of her father and enjoyed visiting her British cousins. Back in the states, she was active in many organizations, such as the Bruguier Log Cabin, the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, her church’s Mary Circle and committee Board, she was Worthy Matron in Rose Croix Easter Star, a member of the Daughters of the Nile and Shrine Kan-Duettes, Girls of ’68, the Museum & Historical Association, Sioux City Women’s Book Club, Booked on Crime Mystery Readers, and Siouxland Senior Center. 

Survivors include her daughter, Kimberle Walish; son-in-law, Larry Clausen; grandchildren, Tami Jo Daane and her husband Jim, Timothy Clausen and his wife Paula, Sarah (Walish) Davey and her husband Kelly; numerous great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Zelpha; her husband, Walter; daughter, Dorothy Clausen; sons-in-law, Wiliam Browne and Doug Walish; grandchildren, Todd and Ivy Clausen; and sisters, Joanne Nelson and Beverly Hedlund.

The family wishes to thank you all for coming to celebrate her life. She cherished her family and the many friendships she made over her 100 years. Memorials may be directed to Sunrise Retirement to establish a gardening group for the residents.