Terpstra, Henrietta Van Soelen – 1936-2024

MITTS, NIKKEL, TERPSTRA, SALGADO, STORM, TRAN, VAN HAL, VAN SOELEN, WEG, WILLIAMS

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 4/11/2024 at 10:52:09

Henrietta Terpstra, 87, of Sully, passed away Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, at St. Francis Manor in Grinnell. Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, Feb. 5, at Sully First Reformed Church. Visitation will be Sunday, Feb. 4, with the family present 3-5 p.m. Interment will be in Sully Cemetery. Memorials have been designated for American Cancer Society.
Henrietta Van Soelen was born Nov. 11, 1936, on a country farmstead between Killduff and Sully. She was the sixth of 10 children born to Marion and Hattie (Van Hal) Van Soelen. She graduated from Pella Christian High School with the Class of 1955. She convinced her dad to let her play basketball, which led to a lifelong love of the sport. Henrietta received her teaching certificate from Calvin College. She loved teaching and encouraged her family to embrace education. She married Harlan Terpstra July 31, 1958. They were blessed with three children: John, Linda, and Daniel. They lived on a farm north of Lynnville until Harlan’s death in April 1985. During these years, she worked on the farm with milking, gardening, and many other chores. After moving to Sully, she worked at Key Cooperative. Henrietta was a member of Sully First Reformed Church. She was active in the women’s guild and served as superintendent for the children’s Sunday school where she loved to arrange the Christmas programs. She sang in the choir and volunteered in many other activities of the church. Henrietta loved to see her children and grandchildren participate in sports and music performances. She loved visiting with and Facetiming with the great-granddaughters.
Those who honor her memory are her children and their families: John (Dawn) Terpstra of Lynnville, Ryan and Whitley Williams of Duvall, WA, and Amelia, Bryce Williams and Chris Tran of Des Moines, Lyndsay and Hunter Storm of St. Charles, MO, and Blakley, Eden, and Baby Storm due soon; Linda Terpstra of Urbandale; Daniel and Karyn Terpstra of Panama City Beach, FL, and Meredith and Cory Mitts of Bloomington, MN, Emily and Saul Salgado of Gilbert, AZ, and Jonathon Terpstra of Panama City Beach, FL.
Of her original family, Henrietta is survived by her siblings: Peter Van Soelen, Martha Weg, Marion and Jan Van Soelen, Frank and Karen Van Soelen, Bob and Marilyn Van Soelen, Betty Nikkel, Joan and Dennis Redeker, Shirley and Bryce Van Der Kamp, and Carolyn and Roger Zylstra; and many nieces and nephews.
Henrietta was preceded in death by her husband Harlan; her parents; her siblings and spouses: Jenny and William Branderhorst, Case and Leona Van Soelen, Gertrude Van Soelen, Gladys Van Soelen, Clair Nikkel, and Al Weg; nephew and niece Jeff and Ronda Van Soelen; and a great-nephew Christian Van Soelen.
Source: Hometown Press (Sully, IA); January 24, 2024