De Jong, Albertha (Mrs. Arnold) 1935-2024

DEJONG, KOOIMA, DESMIT, TOP

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/18/2024 at 19:01:54

Mrs. Albertha De Jong, age 88, of Hull, passed away on Friday, March 22, 2024, at Lyon Specialty Care in Rock Rapids.

A visitation with the family present will be held on Wednesday, March 27, from 10:00am to 11:00am, at the First Reformed Church in Hull. There will be a funeral service on Wednesday, at 11:30am, at the church with the Rev. Adam Van Der Stoep officiating. Following a time of lunch and fellowship, interment will take place at the West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City. The Oolman Funeral Home in Hull is in charge of arrangements.

Albertha Leona was born on May 19, 1935, in Lennox, South Dakota, one of five children born to Leonard and Tena (Kooima) De Smit. She was raised in Lennox and attended country school through the eighth grade.

She was united in marriage to John Top on October 15, 1952, in Orange City. They made their home in California for six years before returning to northwest Iowa. In addition to being a wife and a mother, Albertha worked as a nurse’s aide at the Good Samaritan Society in Canton, South Dakota, the Hudson Manor in Hudson, South Dakota, and the Pleasant Acres Care Center in Hull. John passed away on May 30, 1995, in Hull, after more than 42 years of marriage.

On June 27, 1997, she was united in marriage to Arnold De Jong in Hull, where they made their home. After retiring, Albertha spent her free time making lap quilts for the residents at the Pleasant Acres Care Center. She and Arnold also volunteered as foster grandparents at Hope Haven in Rock Valley. Arnold passed away on October 24, 2017, in Sioux Center, after more than twenty years of marriage. In 2019, Albertha became a resident of Lyon Specialty Care.

Mrs. De Jong was a member of the First Reformed Church in Hull, where she participated in various bible studies. She liked solving crossword puzzles and reading devotionals and enjoyed quilting, embroidering, and rug making.

Survivors include seven children, Judy Blankespoor, of Wentworth, South Dakota; Betty Int Veld, of Orange City; Robert Top, and his wife, Marilyn, of Palisades, Nebraska; Gloria Beekhuizen, of Wauneta, Nebraska; Leon Top, and his wife, Judi, of Orange City; Arlin Top, and his wife, Lora, of Villisca; and Keith Top, and his wife, Liz, of Hull; three step-children and their spouses, Arlin and Monica De Jong, of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Mark and Dena De Jong, of Oskaloosa; and Lerrel and Jodi De Jong, of New Prague, Minnesota; 22 grandchildren; nine step-grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; a brother and his wife, Arnold and Helen De Smit; a sister-in-law, Thelma De Smit; a brother-in-law, Elvis Van Beek; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by two sons-in-law, Henry Blankespoor and Marvin Int Veld; a grandson, Eric Top; two brothers, Cornelius De Smit and Jay De Smit; and a sister, Sharon Van Beek.

Memorials will be given to the First Reformed Church or Hope Haven.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.