Mina DeJong, of Montevideo, died Sunday, January 1, 2017 at Luther Haven Nursing Home at the age of 95.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at 2:00 PM at Hope Reformed Church in Montevideo with Rev. John Runyan officiating. Interment will be at Carmel Reformed Church Cemetery, Rock Valley, IA on Thursday, January 5, 2017 at 1:30PM.
Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday.
Mina (VanderVliet) DeJong was born on July 16, 1921 in Sioux County Iowa to Henry and Minnie (Burgers) VanderVliet. She had 6 brothers and 3 sisters. She attended school in the Sioux County area. On February 25, 1939 she married Raymond DeJong in St. Cloud, MN. They lived in Iowa for a period of time until 1950 when they moved to the Montevideo area. They had 8 children together. On New Years Eve of 1958 the family was traveling back from a visit in Iowa and was involved in a car accident. In that accident Mina’s husband and two children were killed and she was left to raise 6 children on her own.
Mina worked for the Montevideo Schools for over 20 years in food service. She enjoyed cooking and visiting with the children as they came through the lunch line. She also enjoyed quilting, crocheting, and playing cards. She was a long time member of Hope Reformed Church in Montevideo and would bring flowers to the sick and shut-ins as a part of church ministry. Family remembers that she would make a cake to eat after church every Sunday Her grandchildren remember that she was a fun-loving grandma who liked to play cards with her grandchildren.
Mina is survived by her children: Marvin (Beva) DeJong, Montevideo, Vernon (Barb) DeJong, Montevideo, Leonore (Brad) Johnson, Montevideo, Karl (LaVon) DeJong, Dawson, Cheryl (Harv) VanRoekel, Alexandria, and Darrell (Vicki) DeJong, Minnetonka; 20 grandchildren; and 44 great-grandchildren as well as other extended family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Raymond and two children, Roger and Debra in 1958; grandson, Darrell Glenn in 1980 and her 9 siblings. Blessed be her memory.