Marleen Eidsmoe

Sophie Marleen Van Dyke Eidsmoe, 79, went home to be with her Lord Jesus Christ April 24, 2026, surrounded by her loving family after a long battle with cancer – a battle she won by remaining faithful to the Lord.

Marleen was born September 2, 1946, in Valley City, North Dakota to Henry and Dora Van Dyke and was raised on a farm near Marion, North Dakota, where she and her family faithfully worshipped with the North Marion Reformed Church, and she trusted Jesus Christ for her salvation at an early age. After high school she attended Northwestern Bible College in Minneapolis for a year and then graduated from the University of Northern Iowa, majoring in elementary education. She taught children in schools in Cedar Rapids, Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Grand Forks, North Dakota.

On August 8, 1970, she married John Eidsmoe. Together they made their home in Iowa, North Dakota, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Alabama, and she was a partner to him in his career with the U.S. Air Force, teaching and practicing law, and pastoring churches. Their marriage produced three amazing children, David, Kirsten, and Justin.

Marleen’s passion in life was teaching the Bible to children, her own and thousands of others, and leading them to the Lord Jesus Christ. Besides teaching in Christian schools and home schooling her own children, Marleen taught Sunday school for several churches and worked with Child Evangelism Fellowship. She was one of two founding teachers for Montgomery Christian School where she taught for 13 years and established the school’s art program. She frequently presented lectures on children’s literature and gave presentations in period dress as Holocaust survivor Corrie ten Boom, Luther’s wife Katherine von Bora, and the Pilgrim Priscilla Mullins. Her devotional books illustrated with her artwork have inspired many.

Marleen will be remembered for her beautiful smile, her infectious sense of humor, her ability to tell a great story, her love for others, but above all for her love of the Lord and her steadfast faith in Him. Her husband remembers her as a loving and virtuous wife who stood by him and served as his rock and source of strength. Her children remember her as a loving mother who devoted herself to teaching them Biblical values. Throughout her battle with ovarian cancer, she encouraged others with Psalm 20:7: “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”

Marleen is preceded in death by her parents, Henry (Hein) Van Dyke and Dora Van Dyke, and her brother Jim Van Dyke. She is survived by her husband John Eidsmoe; her children David Eidsmoe and his wife Donna, Kirsten Eidsmoe and her husband Chris Tidwell, and Justin Eidsmoe and his wife Aaryn; by her grandchildren Skyler Eidsmoe, Erik Eidsmoe, Amelia Eidsmoe, and Kaegan Lee; her sister Greta Marie Van Dyke and her husband Michael Wittmeier; her sister-in-law Nadine Van Dyke; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service for Marleen will be held at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Montgomery, Alabama, at 11:00 AM Friday May 1, with visitation at 9:30 AM. A memorial service will be held at Skrefsrud Free Lutheran Church in rural Beresford, South Dakota, on May 15 with a visitation from 9:30 -11:00 AM followed by the funeral service at 11:00 AM. Burial will follow at the Beresford, South Dakota Cemetery, where her earthly remains will rest as she awaits the Resurrection.

In lieu of flowers, you are welcome to donate in Marleen’s name to Child Evangelism Fellowship (cefonline.com), P.O. Box 348, Warrenton, MO 63383.

“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” Revelation 14:13