Dora "Nadine" Ballantyne

Dora Nadine (Cook) Ballantyne was born January 26^th, 1930 to David William Cook and Goldie Mae Palmer Cook near Grand River, IA. The family's primary means of support was through farming, and she and her sisters Darlene, Lorene and Landa learned to manage a household early, cooking, cleaning, and helping with chores as needed. It wasn't all work, though, as their parents made family the priority, and fun together essential. The girls and the family had many adventures, and mom's stories of her childhood were often repeated at her sons' requests, just as her moms were when mom was a girl.

Neighbors of mom's family introduced them to the fullness of The Gospel, and she was baptized a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in April 1952. Mom has stated that she was always confident of the truth of the Book of Mormon and the events surrounding the coming forth of the church, never doubting.

Mom and the love of her life, Bob Ballantyne, noticed each other and began dating in January 1950 and were married July 7^th, 1951, immediately setting up their home in Unionville, MO, where Bob was employed. Three sons, Mark, Winn, and Drew were added to the family, and dad served as pastor of the RLDS church in Centerville, IA for many years. Bob passed away just before Thanksgiving in 1975. Mom's testimonies of how the Lord created timely opportunities, opened doors, and took care of all the necessary arrangements are solid anchors of our family's faith, not the least of which resulted in her teaching two blocks from home in the Unionville public-school system for many years. She has served her Master in a number of capacities through the years and has many testimonies of God showing the many ways He causes all things to work together for good to them that love Him, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

Nadine passed from this life peacefully on April 27^th, 2024. She was preceded to the afterlife by her parents, her husband, Bob; her son, Mark and her sister, Landa. Those who remain and remember her fondly are her sons, Winn and Drew; her beloved daughters-in-law, two sisters, two brothers-in-law, seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and many close friends and neighbors who were dear to her.