DYKSTRA, Berniece 1914-2004

DYKSTRA, DEJONGH, VANDER BEEK

Posted By: Roseanna Zehner (email)
Date: 10/24/2004 at 19:26:53

Berniece Dykstra, 90, of Mesa, Ariz., died Sunday, Oct. 10, 2004, at Extended Family Care Facility.

Services were Friday, Oct. 15, at First Reformed Church, Rock Rapids, with interment in Riverview Cemetery.

Berniece DeJongh was born May 25, 1914, at Edgerton, Minn., the daughter of the Rev. John and Ella (Vander Beek) DeJongh. In 1925, her father accepted a call to serve First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids and the family moved. She grew up in Rock Rapids and graduated from Rock Rapids High School in 1932. She played piano for church services and accompanied singers. For many years she was her father's driver, taking him to different churches to preach and to regional Reformed Church board meetings. Later, she joined her sisters-in-law, Sophie and Zepha DeJongh, in singing as the DeJongh trio.

On Sept. 17, 1942, she married Clarence "Doc" Dykstra in Rock Rapids. After he graduated from Iowa State University School of Veterinary Medicine, they moved to George to start a veterinary practice. After Dr. Dykstra served in the military during World War II, the couple lived in Rock Rapids. Since 1982, the couple has spent winters in Mesa, Ariz. During the past five years, she has been a resident of Extended Family Care Facility in Mesa.

She was a member of First Reformed Church Ladies Guild, Merrill Pioneer Community Hospital Auxiliary and PEO Sisterhood.

Survivors include her husband; two sons, Ronald of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Dennis of Atlanta, Ga.; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and one brother, Edwin of Willmar, Minn.

She was preceded in death by her parents; twin brothers, Delmer and Dale (infancy), and one sister, Helen Jensen.