Marilyn Luella Dinsdale Jellings

Marilyn Dinsdale Jellings, 89, of Hugo, Minnesota, formerly of Traer, Iowa, died peacefully at home on Monday, May 10, 2021. Marilyn was born January 12, 1932, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the daughter of Edward H. and Ruth Creighton Wood. After graduating from Waterloo West High School, she was a receptionist and dental assistant for Drs. Shaw, Ostheimer and Carroll. Marilyn served as Postmaster in Buckingham, Iowa and enjoyed a 25-year career with the U.S. Postal Service.

On December 5, 1953, she was united in marriage to Calvin W. Dinsdale at Central Christian Church in Waterloo, Iowa. Although raised in the city, Marilyn's true calling was to be a farmer's wife. She and Calvin enjoyed 27 wonderful years of marriage, raising Black Angus cattle and farming side by side before his death on November 23, 1980. On April 4, 1987, she married Dean M. Jellings of Randalia, Iowa, continuing to live on the farm, raising horses, dancing and traveling in their RV. Dean passed away on June 15, 2014.

Marilyn and Calvin raised 3 children who survive her: daughters, Jodi (Marty) McConaughy of Riverview' Florida and Susan L'Allier of Hugo' Minnesota and a son, Craig (Rita) Dinsdale of Byron' Minnesota. Her greatest joy was her family, which expanded to include 10 grandchildren: Sally (Dave) Snyder, Susie (Tim) Elsasser, Lyle McConaughy, Heather (Cody) Knutson, Jeff (Alex) L'Allier, Amber (Ryan) Filip, Amanda (James) Taylor, Jaime (Chad) Miller, Chelsea (Tommy) Weinrich and Calvin (Karlee) Dinsdale. And her joy was exponentially multiplied with the addition of her 22 great grandchildren: Will & Sean Snyder, Carly & Lauren Elsasser, Jacob, Luke & Nathan Knutson, Luxe & Kai L'Allier, Esme & Chloe Filip, Charlotte, Ellie & Cora Taylor, Blake, Brooklyn & Zoey Miller, Clayton, Oliver & Penelope Weinrich and Mya & Tate Dinsdale. Her legacy to her family is to cherish every memory and know that "You were all the best part of her days."

Also surviving are Marilyn's 3 brothers, Ed (Shirley) Wood, Jr. of Reinbeck, Iowa' Ron (Phyllis) Wood of Waterloo' Iowa and Charles (Linda) Wood of Henderson' Nevada and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.