ELKHART -- Myrna Jean Berden, 72, of Elkhart, died at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday (Nov. 4, 2009) in Elkhart General Hospital after being ill for four months.

She was born May 3, 1937, in Osseo, Mich., to Void and Rhea (French) Yoder. On Jan. 24, 1959, she married John W. Berden in Hillsdale, Mich.

He survives with three sons, Lee (Joanne) Berden of Castro Valley, Calif., Tracey (Terri) Berden of Lafayette and Glenn (Mecca) Berden of Elkhart; one daughter, Rosemary (Mark) Corpe of Elkhart; seven grandchildren; her twin sister, Carol (Eugene) Palmiter of Reading, Mich.; and two brothers, Wayne (Claudine) Jacobus of Osseo and Hubert (Donna) Thompson of Farmington Hills, Mich.

She was preceded in death by two sisters, Louise Gordon and Mariebell Moore, and one brother, Lawrence Jacobus.

Mrs. Berden was a homemaker and seamstress. She was a member of Meadowood Free Methodist Church, Elkhart, who made and distributed blankets for missions at her church, nursing homes and children's hospitals for the past 10 years.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 Sunday at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, and one hour prior to Monday's 11 a.m. funeral service at Meadowood Free Methodist Church, 56538 Meadowood Drive, Elkhart. Pastor David Dollinger will officiate. Burial will follow in Little Pine Cemetery, Goshen.

Memorials may be given to the church. Visit www.billingsfuneralhome.com to send online condolences.