Burgers, Wilma Mrs. Neal 1923-1999

BURGERS, DEHAAN

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/23/2011 at 13:49:40

Wilma H. Burgers,75,of Sioux Falls died at Foundation Hospice Cottage at Sioux Falls Sunday May,9.

Services were at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Community Reformed Church, Sioux Falls. Burial was at Hills of Rest Memorial Park, Sioux Falls.

Mrs. Burgers was born October 15, 1923, at Hospers, to Christian and Clarinda (Muilenburg)De Haan. She was educated in a country school near Timber Lake, South Dakota. She married Neal Burgers June 20, 1943, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The couple met while living on neighboring farms in the Klondike and Canton, South Dakota areas. The couple lived in California, George, Mitchell, South Dakota, and Sioux Falls. While living in Mitchell, they helped organize and were charter members of First Reformed Church,Mitchell. She was a very active member of Community Reformed Church in Sioux Falls for many years. She participated in many church activities including the choir, Bible study, women's circle, senior citizens group and the prayer chain. She enjoyed crocheting and doing fancy embroidery work. In the last few years Wilma sewed 104 quilts and gave them to friends, family and Union Gospel mission.

She always felt her mission in life was to help children in need. The couple were foster parents for 129 children over a period of 29 years. After they retired as foster parents, she still remained active as a Protective Payee for Child Welfare. She has had a life-long interest in foster children and their well-being. He died January 1.

Survivors include her children, Neal W. Burgers of Phoenix, Arizona, George W.Burgers and his wife Judi of Sioux Falls, Carla C. Manning and her husband Les of Larchwood, Donna R. Kuper of Sioux Fall, Kenneth L. Burgers and his wife Nori of East Amherst, New York, Diana R. Burgers, Sioux Falls, Larry F. Fahy, Corson, South Dakota; 10 grandchildren; one great granddaughter; two brothers, Gerald De Haan of Mt. Pleasant, Texas, and Hoeard De Haan and his wife Nancy of Pensacola, Florida; and two sisters Myrna Van Oort and her husband Henry of Rock Rapids and Elaine Harden and her husband Don of Sioux Falls.

She was also preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Evelyn and Lois.

Sioux Center News(5-12-1999)