Obituaries, December 29, 2005

MARY VELLINGA, 96, of Sheldon, died Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2005, at Prairie View Home, Sanborn, Iowa.

Born Sept. 18, 1909, in Boyden, Iowa, she was the daughter of John and Gertie Dekker Vos. She married Donald Van Meeteren June 15, 1921, in Boyden. He died May 3, 1966. She married John Vellinga Sept. 15, 1969. He died April 11, 1999.

She grew up and attended school in Boyden. After marriage, they lived in Sheldon and she worked at Hollanders Variety Store and Mastbergen Jewelry. She was a member of Bethel Reformed Church, Sheldon, and its women's circle and guild.

Surviving are two daughters, Dolores (John) Kruger and Darlene (Ervin) Verrips, both of Sheldon; one stepson, Mark (Carmen) Vellinga, Sioux Falls, S.D.; three sisters, Gertrude Merley, Irene (Vern) Ingalls and Betty Wassenaar, all of Sheldon; 13 grandchildren; two step grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

The service is 10 a.m. today at Bethel Reformed Church, Sheldon, with the Rev. Harlan Van Oort officiating. Burial will be in East Lawn Cemetery, Sheldon.

Vander Ploeg Funeral Home, Sheldon, is in charge of the arrangements.

JOHN VAN DEN BRINK, 91, of Sheldon, died Monday, Dec. 26, 2005, at Northwest Iowa Health Center Senior Care, Sheldon.

Born Oct. 6, 1914, near Sheldon, he was the son of Wiendald and Engelena Posthuma Van den Brink. He married Mary Feekes April 15, 1943, in Sheldon. She died Oct. 27, 1963.

After attending school in Sheldon, he worked for his dad on the family farm. After marriage, they made their home on the Van den Brink family farm, where he farmed until his retirement. He moved to Fieldcrest Assisted Living in Sheldon in 2003. He was a member of First Reformed Church, Sheldon.

Surviving are two daughters, Elaine (Ron) Hulstein, Juneau, Alaska, and Carolyn (Gary) Walsh, Nampa, Idaho; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

The service will be 2 p.m. today at First Reformed Church, Sheldon, with the Rev. Gordon Bloemendaal officiating. Burial will be at 1:15 p.m. in East Lawn Cemetery, Sheldon.

Vander Ploeg Funeral Home, Sheldon, is in charge of arrangements.

CHARLES ALBERT KELLER, 82, of Windom, died Monday, Dec. 26, 2005.

Born Jan. 21, 1923, in Windom, he was the son of Albert and Myrtle Anthony Keller. He married Dorothy Hanson Dec. 26, 1947, at Evangelical Lutheran Church, Windom.

He received his education in Windom Public Schools, graduating in 1940. In December 1943, he was drafted into the United States Army and served during World War II with one year in Europe. He was honorably discharged in February 1946. After marriage, they lived with Dorothy's parents in Lakeside Township until 1950. Then they moved to a home in Windom. He worked for 10 years in trucking with his father and was then employed by the United States Postal Service for 34 years, until he retired June 30, 1986. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Windom, where he was a Sunday school teacher and superintendent, and a trustee, elder, deacon and usher. He was a member of American Legion Post 206 and the Tuesday morning Lutheran Bible Study Group. He was a Cub Scout leader and received the Scouters Key. In 1994, he and Dorothy were honored by the City of Windom with the Mayor's Medal of Honor.

Surviving are his wife; two sons, James (Vicki) Keller, Bettendorf, Iowa, and David (Lynell) Keller, Brooklyn Park; two daughters, Ruth (Jon) George, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, and Mary (Ray) Karst, Elk River; two sisters, Esther Brugman, Windom, and Marjorie (Ken) Loken, Fletcher, N.C.; and nine grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. today at First Presbyterian Church, Windom.

The service will be 10:30 a.m. today at First Presbyterian Church, Windom, with the Rev. Stephen Norby officiating. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery, Windom.

LaCanne Family Funeral Home, Windom, is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials are preferred to the donor's choice.

FRANK DEBOER, 89, of Hills, died Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2005, at Avera McKennan Hospice Unit, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m., at Roste Funeral Home, Hills.

The service will be 1 p.m. Friday at the United Reformed Church, Hills, with the Rev. Doug Barnes officiating. Burial will be in United Reformed Cemetery, Hills.

FLORENCE M.H. PETERS, 89, of Windom, died Monday, Dec. 26, 2005, at Mountain Lake Good Samaritan Village, Mountain Lake.

Born Nov. 2, 1916, in Jasper, she was the daughter of Max and Helena Sierks Beck. She married Ernst Peters Aug. 13, 1942, in Spencer, Iowa. He died in 1968.

She attended country schools in Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota until the eighth grade. After that, she helped her family on the farm. After marriage, they lived for several years in Hartley, Iowa. They then moved to Pipestone for a time before moving back to Hartley. In 1951, they moved to a farm by Bingham Lake and farmed for several years. After her husband's death, she moved to Darfur and then Windom. Recently, she became a resident of the Mountain Lake Good Samaritan Center. She was a member of American Lutheran Church, Windom .

Surviving are one son, Larry (Marlene) Peters, Darfur; one daughter, Lola (Jim) Hesebeck, Ocheyedan, Iowa; two brothers, Darrell (Rose) Beck, Pipestone, and Lawrence (Kay) Beck, Casper, Wyo.; two sisters, Lu Molohan and Myrtle Beck, Colorado Springs, Colo.; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Friday at American Lutheran Church, Windom.

The service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at American Lutheran Church, Windom, with the Rev. Stephen Norby and the Rev. David Erickson officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant View Cemetery, Hartley, Iowa.

LaCanne Family Funeral Service, Windom, is in charge of arrangements.

PHYLLIS L. ROBERTS, 90, of Chambersburg, died Monday, Dec. 26, 2005, at Menno Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Chambersburg.

Born Sept. 2, 1915, in Boyd, she was the daughter of Henning and Anna Pingel Schmidt. She married Donald Roberts Sr. in February 1933. He died in January 1973.

She lived her early life in the Boyd area. She lived in Worthington for 25 years until moving to Chambersburg in July 1999.

Surviving are two daughters, Susan Origer, Fort Worth, Texas, and Donalynn Walker, Chambersburg; and 10 grandchildren.

Services will be held at the convenience of the family in Worthington. Burial will be in Worthington Memorial Gardens.

Cumberland Valley Crematorium, Waynesboro, Pa., is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be made to Menno Haven Benevolent Care Fund, 2075 Scotland Ave., Chambersburg, Pa. 17201.

ALETHA "BLONDIE" GRANSTRA, 87, of Sheldon, died Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2005, at Northwest Iowa Health Center Senior Care, Sheldon.

Born July 26, 1918, near Sheldon, she was the daughter of Joe Sr. and Mae Muilenberg Erkes. She married William Granstra April 28, 1938, in Sheldon. He died Nov. 2, 1993.

At age 5, she moved with her parents into Sheldon, and she attended Sheldon schools. After marriage, they lived in Sheldon. She was a member of Bethel Reformed Church, Sheldon, where she taught Sunday school, catechism and Bible school and was involved in women's circle.

Surviving are three sons, Billy Joe Granstra, Sheldon, Donley (Patricia) Granstra, Carroll, Iowa, and Richy Lee (Jacque) Granstra, Eureka, Calif.; one brother, Don (Theresa) Erkes, California; one sister, Helen Gebauer, Orange City, Iowa; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be after 2 p.m. today, with the family present from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Vander Ploeg Funeral Home, Sheldon.

The service will be 2 p.m. Friday at Bethel Reformed Church, Sheldon, with Gene Bomgaars officiating. Burial will be in East Lawn Cemetery, Sheldon.

Memorials are preferred to the donor's favorite charity or church.

HELEN HOFKAMP, 91, of Leota, died Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2005, at Edgebrook Rest Home, Edgerton.

Arrangements are pending with Dingmann Funeral Home, Adrian, and the Leota Burial Association.

JAY BRUNS, 89, of Luverne, died Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2005, at Sioux Valley Hospital, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Arrangements are pending at Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne.

EMILY MATTHIESEN, 59, of Luverne, died Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2005, at Luverne Hospice Cottage.

Arrangements are pending at Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne.