Balkema, Martha, Mrs. James, 1869-1949

BALKEMA, KLINK

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/5/2012 at 09:18:06

Death came to Mrs. James Balkema, 80, of Orange City at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 28 in the Grossman Hospital, where she had been for several weeks following a stroke.

Mrs. Balkema, nee Klink, was born Mar. 31, 1869 in Ohio and confirmed in the Evangelical Reformed Church at Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1884 she moved with her parents to Sioux County to a farm near Newkirk. She was married to James Balkema and they were the parents of 4 children: Tena, Mrs. Eben Wibben of Mission Hill, S.D., Charles of Sioux City, Peter J. of Orange City and Marion R. of Hampton. There are 16 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.

Mr. and Mrs. Balkema moved from their farm at Newkirk to Orange City in 1947. They observed their 59th wedding anniversary on January 7 of this year and would have celebrated their 60th anniversary next month.

Funeral services for Mrs. Balkema were held Thursday, Dec. 1 in the American Ref. church of Orange City. The Van Etten Funeral Service was in charge of the arrangements.

Source: Alton Democrat, December 8, 1949.

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A similar obituary was published in the Sioux County Capital, December 1, 1949. Neither obit gives her first name. An obit of her husband James (Sioux County Capital, March 4, 1965) gives her name as Martha Klink.