Van Muyden, Lorita Alene (Mrs. Lester) 1942-2021

VANMUYDEN, PALENSKE, MOLENDORP, RACHUY

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:36

Mrs. Lorita Van Muyden, age 78, of Hull, passed away on Thursday, January 21, 2021, at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

There will be a funeral service on Wednesday, January 27, at 10:00am, at the American Reformed Church in Hull. The Rev. Roger Voskuil will officiate. A private family interment will follow the service at the Holman Township Cemetery in Sibley. Visitation with the family will be on Tuesday, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Hull.

Lorita Alene was born on November 9, 1942, in Sibley, the daughter of Martin and Elsie (Palenske) Molendorp. She was raised on a farm near Ocheyedan and graduated from the Ocheyedan High School in 1961. She was baptized and confirmed in the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Ocheyedan.

She was united in marriage to Howard Rachuy on September 2, 1961, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. Together, they had three children, Rhonda, Terry, and Lisa. Howard and Lorita were later divorced after 26 years of marriage. On October 7, 1989, Lorita was married to Lester Van Muyden and together they made their home in Hull. Les passed away on January 12, 2005, in Sioux Center, after more than fifteen years of marriage.

Mrs. Van Muyden was currently a member of the American Reformed Church, where she was active in the Women’s Circles, attended and taught bible studies, and sang in the choir. Lorita generously gave her time and talent to knitting and crocheting thousands of hats and mittens, which were donated to needy children. She also made many afghans to raise funds for the church’s annual charity auctions.

She and Les enjoyed attending southern gospel quartet concerts, especially The Cathedrals, and attending the weeklong Gaither Homecoming in Indianapolis, Indiana. They were also avid fans of the Boyden-Hull basketball teams and attended most of their home games, many of their away games, and all of the post season games including the state tournaments. Together they also made many trips to California to visit family and went on several bus tours to other parts of the country.

Survivors include her three children, Rhonda Rachuy, of Madison, Wisconsin; Terry Rachuy, and his wife, Arlene, of Richmond, Virginia; and Lisa, and her husband, Joe Shediak, of Omaha, Nebraska; a step-daughter, Jacquelyn, and her husband, Roger Westra, of Henderson, Nevada; six grandchildren, Jeffrey Rachuy, of Little Rock; Jennifer, and her husband, Zach Walker, of Dallas, Texas; Rachel, and her husband, Billy Henninger, Joseph Shediak, and Joelle Shediak, all of Omaha; and Jon Moran, of Le Mars; three step-grandchildren, Eric Westra, and his wife, Anne, of Henderson; Justin Westra, and his wife, Michelle, and Jamie Oliver, all of Los Angeles, California; a great-grandson, William Henninger; and three step-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a granddaughter and many aunts and uncles.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.