Dokter, Evert 1894-1935 and Bertha Wissink Family

DOKTER, DOCTER, WISSINK, PLUG

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 9/23/2021 at 02:44:24

Dokter, Evert 1894-1935 and Bertha Wissink Family

This story was taken from the Sioux Center Centennial book of 1991 page 318, and was submitted to the book by Adrianna Dokter. It was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw and some research notes were added by Wilma J. Vande Berg, both of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society.

As a child, Evert grew up in Putten, Gelderland, the Netherlands. He was born on October 4, 1894 to Jan Aartsen Dokter and Gerritje Plug. Because of the death of both parents, the three younger children lived in an orphanage. When Evert became older he left the orphanage and joined the cavalry in the Netherlands, which required much time tending the horses. In the meantime the three older siblings left for America and established themselves so they could sponsor the three still living in the Netherlands, Evert, Fred, and Gertie. Evert arrived at the John and Grace Dokter farm near Boyden in 1919.

Bertha was born on June 17, 1903 to Jan and Betje Wissink, who lived on a farm near Middleburg. When she was five she started her formal education in a country school, grades one to eight. A stove in the center of the one room school was their source of heat during the winter months. There was a shelf on the top of the stove which served as an oven to keep their lunch from freezing in the hall. The older boys (15-16 yrs.) would attend a couple months after harvest was finished and before spring work would begin.

At fifteen years Bertha worked as a hired girl for various families, including John and Grace Dokter who lived about a half mile down the road. Evert was working for his brother John. He would often offer to hitch up the horses and bring Bertha home at the end of the day. Two years later they were planning a wedding.

The wedding was scheduled to take place at the Wissink farm just before the noon meal on Jan. 20, 1927. The ceremony was delayed due to the late arrival of Uncle Will Vreeman. After Rev. Schuurman, pastor of the Middleburg Christian Reformed Church, married them they enjoyed eating a dinner with their guests prepared by Mrs. De Roos from Hull. There was an evening affair planned with more food and square skipping with young friends and relatives as guests.

They rented a farm from Rev. A. Brunsting near Hull. After five years of farming they moved to the Levenkamp place west of Sioux Center, which they farmed for another three years.

Three boys were born during this time Henry J., G. Bernard, and Edwin. They also had a daughter, Gertrude, who was one month old when she died of pneumonia. One year later, in 1935, when the boys were still very young, Evert received a cut from a rusty wire and as a result died from blood poisoning. Bertha was unable to farm and care for her children so she bought a house on First Avenue S.E. in which both her boys and her parents moved into. A daughter, Evelyn, was born in June.

Many neighbors and relatives assisted Bertha during this difficult time. Three young neighbors Andrew Santema, Adrian Haverhals, and a friend of Santema moved into the farm house and cared for the livestock until she could have a farm sale in the spring.

Since the home, in town, was located on the outskirts, they were able to raise chickens, cows and pigs to keep the family busy while supplying the household with food. For added income Bertha accompanied Dr. Will Maris to different farm homes and assisted the doctor after a delivery. Since mothers usually stayed in bed for nine days, she would stay on until the mother was strong again.

In the early 1940’s Dr. Maris hired Bertha to help care for mothers and their babies in a maternity home on main street. They were set up for four babies but they had as many as six mothers at one time. At night Bertha would sleep in the hall so she could assist whenever needed. After the home closed, Bertha was hired as janitor of the Bethel CRC. When a new church was erected she became a full time employee of the Sioux Center Community Hospital.

Bertha presently resides at the New Homestead in Sioux Center. All of her children are married. Henry (Irene Dykstra) and Edwin (Adrianna De Wit) live in Sioux Center. Evelyn (Walter Blom) operates a poultry farm northwest of Sioux Center. Bernard (Lydia Moss) is a minister and has a congregation in Muskegon, MI.

Submitted to the book by Adrianna Dokter

RESEARCH NOTES: added by Wilma J. Vande Berg

BIRTH record for Evert Dokter born 4 Oct 1894 at Putten Gelderland Netherlands to Jan Aartsen Dokter a farmer age 69 and Gerritje Plug
MARRIAGE- parents of Jan Dokter, a farmer age 61 to Gerritje Plug age 23, on 1 Jun 1886 Nijkerk, Gelderland Netherlands.
DEATH – mother - Gerritje Plug (wife of Jan Aartsen Dokter born 15 Dec 1824 Nijkerk), Gerritje was 40 years old and the daughter of Albert Plug and Aaltje Weffelaar. Gerritje died 30 Jun 1903 at Putten.
DEATH – father - Jan Dokter, a farmer died at 81 years son of Aart Hendriksen Dokter and Aartje Hendriksen Ouderdorp, his wife was Gerritje Plug, he died 18 Jun 1906 Putten, Gelderland Netherlands. Records indicate there were eight children in all born to Jan and Gerritje. When Jan Dokter died his minor children were left as orphans.

OBITUARY of Everett Dokter died 1935
From the Sioux Center News, January 31, 1935:
Everett Dokter Dies of Blood Poisoning
Everett Dokter who has been suffering for some time of blood poisoning died Tuesday night at the Hull hospital.
Mr. Everett Dokter is survived by a wife and three boys, they live on a farm 5 miles west of the South Side.
The funeral services will be held Friday at 1:00 o'clock at the H. J. Wissink home and at 1:30 at the 2nd Christian Ref. Church. Rev. Schuurman will have charge of the services.

OBITUARY of Bertha Mrs. Everet Dokter 19-03-1992
From the Sioux Center News and the Rock Valley Bee, both dated April 15, 1992:
Bertha Dokter
Bertha Dokter, 88, of Sioux Center died Tuesday. April 7, at a hospital in Sioux Falls after a short Illness.
Services were held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 10, at Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center with the Rev. Robert Holwerda officiating. Burial was in Middleburg Cemetery.
The former Bertha Wissink was born June 17, 1903 in Middleburg, the daughter of Henry J. and Bertha Wissink. She married Everet Dokter January 20, 1927 in Middleburg. He died In 1935. She worked as a nurse at the Maris Maternity Home In Sioux Center and also had been a custodian at Bethel Christian Reformed Church. She later worked at the Sioux Center Community Hospital. She was a member of Bethel Christian Reformed Church, where she was active In the women's organizations, Sunshine Circle and taught Sunday school.
Survivors Include three sons, Henry J. Dokter and Edwin Dokter, both of Sioux Center, and the Rev. G. Bernard Dokter of Muskegon. Michigan: a daughter, Evelyn Blom of Rock Valley: 19 grandchildren: and 30 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by an infant daughter; three sisters; two brothers; and two grandchildren.

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