Niekerk, Alice (Mrs. Dick C.), 1888-1925

NIEKERK, DEJONG, DEVRIES

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:35

From the Alton Democrat, June 5, 1925:

MRS. NIEKERK ANSWERS CALL GRIM REAPER LOCAL MOTHER CALLED TO REWARD
HULL NEWS WRITTEN FOR ALTON DEMOCRAT

On Friday the sad report came that Mrs. D. C. Neikerk age only 37, had died. She is survived by husband and 5 children. She was a daughter of Mrs. Ben De Jong of Orange City and was an esteemed and caring mother. The bereaved relatives have the sympathy of the community. Funeral services were held at the home and at the Chris. Ref. church Monday afternoon, Rev. Henning of Middleburg and Rev. Kok of Lebanon officiating. Interment at the Hull cemetery.

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From the Sioux County Index (Hull), June 5, 1925:

MRS. NIEKERK PASSES AWAY

One of the saddest deaths which has occurred in this community for some time was that of Mrs. D. C. Niekerk. Death is always sad, but when a comparatively young mother is suddenly taken away, by the merciless hand of death, from a husband and six small children it seems unusually sad.

Mrs. Niekerk was 39 years and 26 days old at the time of her death. She was born at Orange City, Iowa, May 4, 1888 and was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. DeJong, of Orange City, who have also resided in this town. She was married on March [illegible] 1913 to D. C. Niekerk and to this union six children were born.

On Sunday morning, May 24, birth was given to a healthy little baby girl. All looked well until Wednesday when convulsions started to tear [apart her?] system. After this [things?] began to look bad and there was little hope from the start. Both Dr. Maris and Dr. Samuelson exercised the utmost of their medical ability to save her precious life. But all was of no avail. A higher authority held sway and death came to relieve her unspeakable agony on Friday afternoon, May 29.

Mrs. Niekerk was much respected by all those who knew her and she was a loving mother and wife. Her life has been one of devotion to her family and love for all those near her. She leaves to mourn her death a husband and six children, the oldest being only eleven years, an aged mother and father, a number of brothers and sisters, and numerous other relatives.

Funeral services were held on Monday June 1st, at the Niekerk home and in the Christian Reformed church. Rev. Heynen of Middleburg spoke in the Dutch language and Rev. Kok of Lebanon in English. Many words of comfort for the bereaved were spoken. Interment was made at StouweHope Cemetery, Luinstra and Hope Cemetery.

We are sure we are expressing the wishes of the community when we say that all sincerely sympathize with the bereaved ones, especially with Mr. Niekerk and his children. As far as we know, Mr. and Mrs. Ben DeJong will stay at the Niekerk home for the present.

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From the Rock Valley Bee, June 5, 1925:

Mr. and Mrs. H. De Jong and Mr. and Mrs. A. Van Der Bok were called to Hull Friday by the sickness and death of Mrs. Dick Niekerk, a sister of Mrs. De Jong and Mrs. Van Der Bok. The funeral services were held at Hull Monday. Besides other relatives, Mrs. Niekerk leaves her husband and six children, one a babe only four days old.

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RESEARCH NOTES

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Niekerk, Alice, b. 4 May 1888, d. 29 May 1925, wife of D. C., Hope Cem Hull IA.

The Sioux County marriage register has groom Dick C. Niekerk, resident of Hull, a farmer, age 29, a Hollander, born in Oude Ryn, Netherlands, parents Hendrik Niekerk and Elizabeth de Wit; bride Alice de Jong, resident of Hull, age 25, a Hollander, born in Orange City, parents Berend de Jong and Vokeltje de Vries; married in Hull, March 2, 1913. (The next entry is for her sister Margaret’s marriage to Luke Brunsting on the same day.)

The 1925 census just before she died listed children as Henry 11, Bernard 9, Ernest 7, Elizabeth 3, and Francis 1. The four day old baby would be in addition.