Dykstra, Bertha "Berdie" (Mrs. Urban James) 1928-202

DYKSTRA, SCHWARZ, SCHNOES

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-volunteer (email)
Date: 11/8/2023 at 13:47:53

Mrs. Bertha “Berdie” Dykstra, age 95, of Alton, passed away surrounded by family on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, at the Good Samaritan Society in Le Mars.

A rosary service will take place on Wednesday, November 8, at 10:00am, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alton. A Mass of Christian burial will begin at 10:30am, on Wednesday, at the church with the Rev. Fr. Daniel Greving officiating. A meal and time of visitation with the family will take place in the Spalding Catholic School gymnasium following the interment at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Alton. The Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City is in charge of arrangements.

Bertha Celesta, who would become known as “Berdie”, was born on October 16, 1928, in Hospers, one of eight children born to John M. and Kathryn (Schwarz) Schnoes. She grew up in Alton and graduated from St. Mary’s Academy.

On November 12, 1949, she was united in marriage to Urban James Dykstra in Alton, where they made their home and Urban worked for the post office. Together they raised their five children and enjoyed participating in card clubs and on bowling teams, as well as going out on dance nights. They were lifelong members of their churches in Alton, Berdie at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and Urban at the United Presbyterian Church. They were also active members of the Floyd American Legion Post and Auxiliary in Alton, as well as being leaders of the Cub and Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, and the Campfire Girls. Urban passed away on May 12, 1983, in Sioux City.

In addition to being a wife and mother, Berdie worked for the Orange City Drug Store and was a manager for the Tulip Town Gift House in Orange City. She later worked at the Dutch Mill Pharmacy in Orange City until her retirement. She enjoyed sewing and made everything from clothes to costumes along with quilts for the church and every member of the family. Her faith and her family were the two most important things in her life, and she looked forward to spending time with her family and vacationing together. She was known as the “kin keeper” of the family and worked at continuing the tradition of family reunions. Her final community project was helping with the completion of the Veterans Memorial in downtown Alton.

Survivors include her five children and their spouses, Debra Dykstra and Denny Wynn, of Sioux City; Kenneth and Toni Dykstra, of Brooklyn, Connecticut; Linda and Kelly Lux, of Orange City; Roger and Jeannie Dykstra, of Williford, Arkansas; and David and Jill Dykstra, of Sheldon; thirteen grandchildren, Chad (Amy) Smit, Cole Koehler, Lindsay (Peter) Einersen, Sara Smit, Jill (Dan) Eddy, Lindsey (Adam) Ruschmann, Brian Lux, Desi Dykstra, Matthew Dykstra, Andrew (Emily) Dykstra, Thomas Dykstra, DJ (Kirsten) Wynn, and Dawn Wynn; fifteen great-grandchildren, Trenton, Cale, Brenna, Taya, Kyan, Kolt, Kane, Avery, Noah, Jace, Maddie, Oliver, Jackson, Sydnee, and Samantha; a brother and his wife, Bernard and Phyllis Schnoes; a sister, Maggie Ehlers; numerous nieces and nephews; and a caregiver and friend, Julie Pottebaum.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by an infant son, Ronald, on July 16, 1950; three sisters, Kathleen Pawlowski, Elsie Albers, and Esther Malcom; and two brothers, Frank Schnoes and John Schnoes.

Memorials will be given to projects of the Floyd American Legion Auxiliary, the Orange City Area Home Health and Hospice, and Foster Grandparents and Senior Companion of Greater Siouxland.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.