Balkema, Mae, Mrs. Raymond Peter, 1898-1993

BALKEMA, DERUYTER, KLOEK

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 9/20/2010 at 20:29:48

Mae Balkema, 94, of Sioux Center, died Monday, January 11, at the Sioux Center hospital. Services were Thursday at Central Reformed Church in Sioux Center with the Rev. Dennis Wilcox officiating. Burial was at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Sioux Center.

Balkema was born December 25, 1898, in Sioux Center, the daughter of Jacobus and Aaltje (Kloek) De Ruyter. She spent her childhood in Sioux Center and graduated from Sioux Center High School. She married Raymond Peter Balkema in Sioux Center in 1918. He died May 4, 1979. She lived in Sioux City from 1922 until 1972 when she moved to Minneapolis. She returned to Sioux Center in 1979.

Survivors are a daughter, Mary Margaret Zoeckler, of Ottumwa; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; a brother, James De Ruyter; and a sister, Martena Gilbert.

She was preceded in death by two daughters, Phyllis Mae Smith and Dorothy; three brothers; and one sister.

Source: Sioux Center News, Jan. 19, 1993.