Dykstra, Bertha Mrs. Hildred 1918-2003

DYKSTRA, KOERSELMAN, VANDERMAATEN

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-Volunteer
Date: 3/5/2013 at 15:11:44

Source: North West Iowa Review (9-6-2003)

Bertha Jeanette Dykstra, 85, Mesa, AZ, formerly of Boyden, died Sunday, Aug. 31, in Mesa; AZ. Services will be 10 a.m. today (Saturday, Sept. 6 at First Reformed Church in Boyden. A memorial service in Arizona is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, at New Hope Community Church in Gilbert, AZ.

Bertha Dykstra, daughter of Benjamin and Jennie (Vandermaaten) Dykstra was born July 21, 1918 in Boyden. She graduated from Northwestern College in Orange City and Mankato State University in Mankato, MN, with a bachelor of education degree. She married H.M. “Yonk” Dykstra on Jun 28 1939, and they has a son Lyle John . They moved to Omaha, NE in 1942 and returned to Boyden in 1945. She taught elementary school 1949-1957 in Iowa and 1957-1977 in Truman, MN. She and her husband and son moved to Madelia, MN, in 1957. In the early 1960’s she and her husband raised as sons Sawon and Chi Chang, children of a Korean college classmate of her sister-in-law. The couple retired to Fountain of the Sun in Mesa, AZ in 1986.

She was an elder in the Presbyterian Church USA, served as a Woman of the Church Officer in Minnesota Valley Presbytery, a Sunday school teacher an adviser to youth groups. She also chaired the Renovation Committee for First Presbyterian Church in Madelia, MN. She was a founding charter member of New Hope Community Church in Gilbert, AZ., and a longtime member of PEO. She was dearly loved and will be missed by many of her friends and family members.

Survivors include a son, the Rev Dr. Lyle John and Terry Lee Dykstra who are serving as missionary in Kenya, Africa; two grandchildren; six great grandchildren; two sisters Lucy Eberline and Johanna Kruse; and a brother Herman Koerselman. She was preceded in death by her husband, H.M. “Yonk” Dykstra; four brothers and a sister.