Sandra Gjerdahl

    Sandra L. (Morse Burke) Gjerdahl, 65, of Quartzsite, Az., and formerly Fertile, Iowa died Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 at the Palo Verde Hospital, Blythe, Calif.
    Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 8, at the Church of Christ, Fertile, with Pastor Rob Perry and Pastor Dennis Ganz officiating.  Interment will be in Ventura Cemetery, Ventura, Iowa. Family suggests memorials to Sandra L. Gjerdahl Memorial Fund.

    Sandra was born Nov. 26, 1946 in Mason City, Iowa the daughter of Harry E. and Ida (Cooley) Morse.  She grew up in the Fertile area.  Sandra graduated from Forest City High School in 1965.  She later attended and graduated from Capri Cosmetology School. She worked many jobs in her life as cosmetology instructor at Forester Beauty Salon, delivered Winnebagos, cooked at the Grand Café, and managed several convenience stores in Minnesota.
    Sandra married David Gjerdahl Oct. 1, 1994 in Rake, Iowa.  They moved to Arizona in 2006.
    She enjoyed doing crafts, cooking, decorating, watching movies, spending time with her family and playing Farmtown on Facebook.  She was a wonderful mother and her grandchildren meant the world to her.
    Sandra is survived by her husband, David Gjerdahl, Quartzsite; three children, Tracy Burke, Mason City, Tara Dahn, Forest City, Iowa and Travis (Stacy) Burke, Forest City; 13 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; four brothers, Steve (Geri) Morse, St. Paul Park, Minn., Tim (Kathy) Morse, Scott Morse and Jon (Debbie) Morse all of Anchorage, Alaska; one sister, Elin (Harold) Miner, Fertile; sister-in-law, Elida Morse, Clear Lake, and several nieces and nephews. 
    She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Pat Morse; and son, Troy Burke. 
    Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.