Dorothy N. (Soma) BARKEMA

BARKEMA, SOMA, JOHNSON, DURANT, LINDBLAD, RISE, SPRINGER, HAVARD, WILBUR, PALS, DORENKAMP, BEISNER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/6/2007 at 20:42:51

04/03/2007

Dorothy N. Barkema, 81, a native of Wright County, died March 23, 2007 at the Concord Care Center in Garner where she had been a resident for the past four years. Services were held March 31 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Belmond with Rev. Troy Pflibsen officiating. Burial was in the Immanuel Reformed Church Cemetery east of Belmond. Dorothy was born November 13, 1925 in Wright County, the daughter of Norris and Eveline (Johnson) Soma. She attended grades 1-4 at Hickory Grove, grade 5 in Goodell, and grades 6-12 at rural Belmond and Belmond High School. Dorothy's first career was a country school teacher. Dorothy married Lyle Barkema on October 26, 1945 at her parents' home near Belmond. They farmed in the Belmond, Goodell and Klemme areas before moving to Clear Lake in 1977, living on North Shore Drive, a long time dream of Dorothy's. She loved decorating the house, enjoying the view, and dancing at the Surf Ballroom. Dorothy also worked as a nurses aide at the Oakwood Care Center in Clear Lake.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and brother-in-law Duane Durant. Dorothy is survived by daughters Deanna (John) Lindblad of Napa, CA, Rebecca (Robert) Rise of Storden, MN, and Sharane (George) Springer of Asheville, NC; sons Rodney (Kathryn) Barkema of Forest City and Dane Barkema of Mason City; grandchildren Heather Havard of Sacramento, CA, Arianne Rise of Eagan, MN, Meredith (Mike) Wilbur of North Mankato, MN, and Rachel Springer of Savannah, GA; great grandchildren Jacob and Allie Wilbur; sisters Eleanor (Alvin) Pals of Belmond, Muriel (Duane) Durant of Dallas, TX, Betty (Donald) Dorenkamp of Thornton, Lois (James) Beisner of Iowa Falls, and Shirley (Arlen) Pals of Lake Mills; and brothers Gilman (Sandra) Soma of Belmond and Charles (Phebe) Soma of Belmond.

©Belmond Independent 2007