Van Sant, Berdine Esther (Slings) 1930-2006

VAN SANT, SLINGS, BOERTJE

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 7/31/2006 at 19:55:39

Berdine Esther Slings was born on January 6, 1930, at Prairie City, Iowa. She was the youngest of four children that were born to Isaac and Adriana Boertje Slings.

Berdine received her elementary education at country grade schools near Prairie City and attended Pella Christian High School in Pella, Iowa.

On November 20, 1952, she was united in marriage with Willis Hubert Van Sant, who was one of twelve children that were born to the late Andrew and Gertie Van Hal Van Sant. Bea and Willie, as they were known, were married at the home of her parents near Prairie City and to this union two sons were born: Steven Willis and Timothy Wayne. Berdine and Willis lived the first six months of their married life in Des Moines, Iowa and then moved to Sully, Iowa where they resided the rest of their lives.

Willis owned and operated the Van Sant Motor Freight in Sully from 1954 until 1989 while Berdine did the bookkeeping. Berdine enjoyed the activities of her children and grandchildren. Bea loved to serve in anyway she could; always ready with a meal, a visit, a call, or later, a card with words of encouragement. During the nearly five months of Willis, hospitalization prior to his death on May 1, 2000, she exemplified the hope of a recovery with a great deal of patience.

Following Willis, death at the age of 73 years, Berdine experienced the death of a grandson, Brandon Anthony at the age of 18 years, who died of injuries received in an auto accident on February 21. 2002. Berdine believed that "God's grace can make our peace greater than our pain." Berdine enjoyed cooking, baking, reading and gardening. She continued living in her home until becoming hospitalized on May 24, 2006. She passed away at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House in Pella, Iowa, on Thursday, June 1, 2006, at the age of 76 years, 4 months and 25 days.

Those who will cherish her memory are her two sons: Steve and Tim Van Sant both of Sully; four grandchildren: Brett Alexander Van Sant, twins, Bradley Aaron and Brayden Andrew Van Sant all of Sully, Breighann Adrianna and her husband, Jesse Van Baale of Marshalltown, Iowa; and one special great-granddaughter, Emily Van Sant. Of her original family, Berdine leaves her brother, Harold I. Slings and his wife, Martha of Pella; and her two sisters-in-law, Madeline (Rodger) Slings of Prairie City and Laura (Andrew) Slings of Pella.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Willis and her grandson, Brandon; her parents: her father, Isaac Slings who passed away in 1965, her mother, Adriana Slings in 1985; and two brothers: Rodger I. Slings who passed away in 1970 and Andrew H. Slings in 1989.

Berdine was a longtime, faithful member of the Sully Christian Reformed Church in Sully where over the years she taught Sunday School, sang in the choir and with the original Ladies Ensemble, was a faithful member of the Ruth Circle and enjoyed putting together quilts for missions. In the later years of her lifetime she worked with the Crossroads Bible Institute prisoner program through the mail. Berdine will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, sister and friend to all.

The Pella Chronicle, June 26, 2006