Madelyn Cotton

Madelyn M. Cotton, 84 of Parker, died on November 11, 2019 at the Avantara Care Center in Clark, SD. Funeral Services will be at 10:30 AM Thursday, November 14, 2019 at the First English Lutheran Church in Parker preceded by private burial at Rosehill Cemetery, Parker. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 PM Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at Hofmeister-Jones Funeral Home, Parker with a Prayer Service at 7:00pm. Arrangements by Hofmeister-Jones Funeral Home.

Madelyn Mae Kraemer was born on October 14, 1935 to Paul William and Henrietta (Rehmstedt) Kraemer at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls.  She lived on the Kraemer homestead seven miles north of Parker until she was married.  After attending Brothersfield District #7 for eight years, she graduated from Parker High School in 1953.  During her senior year, she was elected homecoming queen.  She received her teaching certificate from General Beadle State Teachers College and then taught country school for a year.  On February 17, 1955 she was united in marriage to Allan “Arnold” Cotton at Parker.  They lived on the Cotton farm for 27 years before moving into Parker in 1982. She worked side by side with her husband on the farm where they raised their family.  They were very involved in the Holstein Association where she had served as secretary.  In 1991 they were co-chairs of the Holstein Association National Convention which was held in Sioux Falls.   She was a member of First English Lutheran Church, Parker.

Grateful for having shared her life are her 2 sons, John (Donita), Sioux Falls, and Donald (Nicole), Clark, SD; 4 daughters, Rebecca Rice, Colleen (Dennis) Dunn, Lyla (Robert) Hogg, and Sally (Garry) Felsheim, all of Parker; 13 grandchildren, Eric (Karla), Wade (Nicole), Courtney (Tony), Thad (Sayli), Dylan (Stevie), Darrell (Sara), John, Sarah (Tyler), Erin, Allan (Keshia), Adam (Heather), Sheila (Dan), and Ryan (Erica); 22 great-grandchildren; a sister, Helen Wenzlaff, Marion; a brother Daryl Kraemer, Parker; a sister-in-law Irene Jorgensen, Viborg; and special family friend, Merlyn Van Hove, Freeman, who lived with the family through his high school years. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Arnold in 2008, a brother LeeRoy Kraemer, a son-in-law, Wally Rice, sister-in-law, Kathryn Kraemer, brothers-in-law, Walter Wenzlaff and Dale Jorgensen, and nieces Rita Pearson, Teresa Shaver, and Connie Kubiszewski.