Franken, Harriet Johanna, Mrs. Henry E., 1901-1996

FRANKEN, DYKSHORN, VRYMOET

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/26/2010 at 06:12:41

HARRIET J. FRANKEN., March 16, 1901-December 5, 1996

Harriet Johanna Franken, 95, of Pella died late Thursday evening on December 5 at Pella Community Hospital, one year after the death of her husband, the Rev. Henry Franken. Funeral services were on December 8 at Second Reformed Church in Pella, the Rev. Norman J. Schouten officiating and the Rev. Ralph Van Rheenen assisting. A committal service was at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Sioux Center on Monday, December 9, with the Rev. Joel Bensema officiating.

Harriet Dykshorn, daughter of William and Johanna Vrymoet Dykshorn, was born on a farm near Sioux Center on March 18, 1901. She was educated in the Sioux Center public school and attended classes at Iowa State University in Ames. As a young girl, Harriet was a member of First Reformed Church in Sioux Center, where she served as a part-time organist.

On August 8, 1929, she married Henry E. Franken at a high-noon wedding at her parents' home. Henry was a student at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan, at the time of their marriage. The couple had five children: Darrell, Marilyn Joy, David Henry, Robert Earl and Carol Lynn.

The Rev. Henry Franken spent 35 years in the ministry of the Reformed Church of America. During that time, Harriet participated in the ministry of the churches they served in Iowa, South Dakota, Colorado and Canada. She was also active in the RCA Women's Classical organizations. She was elected to the RCA Board of Foreign Missions in 1947 and the Board of Domestic Missions in 1953. While serving in Canada, Harriet was involved with youth of the church.

Following their retirement from the full-time ministry, Harriet and Henry served as managers of Kirkside Retirement Center, an RCA retirement home in Roxbury, New York. After that, she and her husband spent a year on a trip around the world, visiting many mission stations along the way.

In 1967, the Frankens retired in Pella. Since their move to Pella, Harriet was an active, faithful member at Second Reformed Church and its Ladies Aid. She served as a hostess both at the church and at the information windmill during Pella's Tulip Festival. She was also a member of the Pella Reading Club, a Bible-study group and Pella China Painters.

Mrs. Franken had been diagnosed with cancer in January and, since that time, she moved from her home in Pella to an apartment and then to Hilltop Manor North.

Survivors are four children, their spouses and a daughter-in-law: Darrell and Marilyn Franken of Holland, Michigan, Marilyn and Gil De Roos of Des Moines, Robert and Helen Franken of Calgary, Alberta, Carol and Sumner Mapes of Pella and Karen Franken of Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

Other survivors are 12 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one sister, Margaret Roelofs, and her husband, Dave Roelofs, of Sioux Center; and two sisters-in-law, Margaret (Mrs. Marion) Dykshorn and Margaret (Mrs. Edward) Dykshorn, both of Sioux Center.

Mrs. Franken was preceded in death by her husband, Henry; her son, David H. Franken; two grandchildren; one great-grandchild; twin half-sisters, Gertrude Sneller and Minnie Brantsen; a sister, Eldine Cox; and six brothers, Martin, William, John, Edward, Simon and Marion Dykshorn.

Mrs. Franken will long be remembered for her love of poetry, her creative writing ability, her pleasure in family gatherings and her enjoyment of God's creation.

At the funeral service, eulogies from her grandchildren were given by Sue Brandl. Hymns that were sung by the congregation were "Blessed Assurance" and "Angels We Have Heard on High." Dale Jansen sang "The Lord's Prayer" and "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming." Casket bearers at the funeral were her grandchildren.

Memorials may be given for Hospice of Pella or Reformed Church of America Missions.

Source: Sioux Center News, December 17, 1996.