Hulst, Dena (Mrs. Henry N.) 1903-2002

HULST, ROETMAN, VANDENBRINK, ROMBERG, SMITH

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-volunteer
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:38

Source: Sioux Land Press (1-1-2003)

Born: July 7, 1903
Died: December 24, 2002

Dena Hulst, age 99 of Sheldon passed away on Thursday, December 24, 2002 at the Northwest Iowa Health Center in Sheldon. Funeral services were at 1:30 P.M. on Friday, December 27, 2002 t the First Reformed Church in Sheldon. Reverend Gordon Bloemendaal officiated with burial in the Hospers Cemetery in Hospers, Iowa. The Vander Ploeg Funeral Home of Sheldon was in charge of arrangements.

Dena Hulst was born July 7, 1903 in Hospers, Iowa. She was the daughter of Henry and Syra Dena (Romberg) Smith. She grew up in several towns in northwest Iowa. Her father was a baker. She received her education in schools in Hospers and Paullina. Dena married John Roetman in 1922. He was a baker. Their union brought four children: Albert Roetman, Dorothy (Roetman) Oldenkamp, Clarine (Roetman) Van Beek, and Ann (Roetman) Bartling. On March 20, 1937, Dena married William Vanden Brink. The couple farmed near Hospers, Iowa and Lake Benton, Minnesota. Upon retirement, they moved to the town of Hospers, Iowa. William passed away on March 19, 1969. On September 18, 1970, Dena was united in marriage to Henry N. Hulst. He died on March 29, 1986.

Dena was a very active member in several churches during her life, and always kept busy teaching Sunday School, Bible studies, Bible School and much of her life was spent playing the piano and teaching piano lessons until 1971. She played in various churches while living in Rock Rapids, Iowa; Little Rock, Iowa; Verdi, Minnesota; Lake Benton, Minnesota; and Hospers, Iowa. Music was her life and she gave her life to God and music. Her music lives on through her grandchildren to whom she taught all to play the piano. She was a member of the First Reformed Church in Sheldon, where she has been a member since she moved to the Christian Retirement Home in April of 1989. At First Reformed, she served faithfully as a “Prayer Power Booster.”

She was preceded in death by her three husbands, her son, Albert Roetman; her daughters, Dorothy (Roetman) Oldenkamp, Clarine (Roetman) Van Beek; sons-in-law, Ardo Bartling and Gene Hedman; a daughter-in-law, Alyce Roetman; as well as her own parents, grandparents, and all of her eleven brothers and sisters.

She leaves to forever cherish her memory her daughter, Annabelle Bartling of Lakeville, Minnesota; sons-in-laws, Lester Van Beek of Sheldon, Iowa and Wilbert Oldenkamp of Le Mars, Iowa; a daughter-in-law, Henrietta Roetman of Sheldon, Iowa; 7 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and 9 great-great-grandchildren. She was a true soldier of God and an avid prayer warrior. Dena “Grandma, Grams” was often heard quoting in her later years, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have run the race.” II Timothy 4:7.