Margaret "Cook" Davis

Margaret Jane “Cook” Davis, 79, of Ellendale, ND, passed away Sunday, August 4, 2024, at Monument Health Hospice House, Rapid City, SD.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, August 12, 2024, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Westport, SD, with Father Jordan Samson officiating.

Burial will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery following Mass.

A time of fellowship and luncheon will follow the burial at the church hall.

Visitation will be from 3-5 p.m., Sunday, at the mortuary, with a liturgical wake at 5 p.m.  Visitation continues one hour before Mass at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers that you plant a tree in memory of Cook or send a donation to St. Joseph’s Indian School or the charity of your choice.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.schriversmemorial.com. Services will be recorded and posted on Schriver’s website following the service.

Margaret Jane “Cook” Van Dover was born on May 7, 1945, in Aberdeen, SD, the ninth of twelve children to Floyd and Amy (Siemann) Van Dover. She grew up in Westport, SD, and graduated from Frederick High School, where she met Matt Mikkonen.

The pair were united in marriage on August 31, 1963. They lived in Westport, Bath, and Frederick, SD, where they started and raised their family. Five children were born to their union: Tina, Sonya, Patrick, Rheiff, and Heather. Cook was a devoted wife and full-time mother until her children were of school age. To help support the family, she worked several different odd jobs, the Bee Farm, Pheasant Farm, bartending, and was a restaurant/bar manager. Later, Cook and Matt parted ways.

Cook married Dale Davis on September 26, 1987. He brought four children to the family: John, Sherry, Brenda, and Kristy. Together, Cook and Dale owned and operated Dale’s Corner Corral in Ellendale, ND. After 22 years, they sold the bar. Over the next several years, Cook assisted Dale with groundskeeping at the Ellendale City Park and Cemetery.  She gained employment at Avera Clinic and worked in the evenings in janitorial services. Later, Cook was hired at Dickey Rural Network as a full-time employee until her retirement in 2017.

Dale passed away in 2015, but Cook continued to make Ellendale her home. In her free time, she enjoyed watching all kinds of sports and TV entertainment, especially tennis, rodeo, Minnesota Vikings and Twins. She was especially proud of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and enjoyed attending and supporting all of their various activities and events.

Cook is survived by her children: Tina (Blaine)Anliker of Chugiak, AK, Sonya (Jason Breyer) of Baltic, SD, Patrick (Carrie) Mikkonen of Parkston, SD, Rheiff (Kimberly) Mikkonen of Box Elder, SD, and Heather (Matt) Mikkonen-Sylvester of Cambridge, MN; stepchildren: John Davis of Ellendale, ND, Sherry (Mike) Bice of Belle Fourche, SD, Brenda (Shannon) Morris of Deadwood, SD, and Kristy (Duane) Hegge of Aberdeen, SD; three brothers: Kenneth (Elaine) Van Dover of Aberdeen, SD, Owen Van Dover of Aberdeen, SD, and Mark (Linda Jo) Van Dover of Westport, SD; two sisters: Beverly (Robert) Robinson of Rochester, MN, Linda Brooks of Aberdeen, SD, and sister in law, Kay (Phillip) Van Dover; 27 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild numerous nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews and great grand-nieces and nephews.

Cook was preceded in death by her husband, Dale Davis; parents, Floyd and Amy; five brothers: Thomas, Daniel, Jerald, Donald, and Phillip; one sister, Veronica Van Dover; sister-in-law Audrey (Jerald) Van Dover and two nephews: Greg Robinson and David Van Dover.