Berkenpas, Dirkje “Dora” (Mrs. Sipke), 1864-1940

BERKENPAS, VIS, VANLAAR, VANSPYKEREN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/3/2022 at 22:46:09

From the Alton Democrat, November 22, 1940:

Mrs. Berkenpas Passes On

Mrs. S. Berkenpas, aged Alton resident, died Sunday afternoon, Nov. 17, at the age of 76, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. S. Starkenburg, with whom she has lived for several years. Funeral services were held at the Starkenburg home and First Reformed church in charge of the Rev. Tinklenberg on Wednesday.

Mrs. Sip Berkenpas (Dirkje Vis) was born at Gelderland, Netherlands, on Aug. 31, 1864. At the age of 15 years she came to America accompanied by four brothers and one sister and settled near Alton, Iowa. In the year 1883 she was married to John Van Laar. To this union were born six children, of which a little daughter died in infancy and a son at the age of 39 years. The four living children are: Fred Van Laar, Grand River, Ia.; Mrs. Sjord Starkenburg, Alton; Miss Lena Criswell, Washington, D.C.; and Albert Van Laar, Colton, S.D.

In 1897 she was married to Sip Berkenpas of Orange City. They made their home near Le Mars. To this union were born five children: Mrs. Arthur Starkenburg, Volga, S.D.; Mr. Wm. Berkenpas, Buthton, Minn.; Mrs. Rufus De Zeeuw, Holland, Minn.; Mrs. Klein Baartman, Lake Benton, Minn.; and Bert Berkenpas, Alton.

From Le Mars the family moved to Holland, Minn., and in the year 1916 they moved to Orange City. On January 15, 1929, Mr. Berkenpas passed out of this life, leaving Mrs. Berkenpas and her youngest son, Bert, to continue in the house. The past few years she has made her home with her children, [most recently] with her daughter, Mrs. [Starkenburg.] [the last few lines of the obit are partially blurred]

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RESEARCH NOTES

Her death certificate (informant Anna De Zeeuw) has Derkje Berkenpas, resident of Alton for 3 years; widow of Sepke Berkenpas; born Aug. 31, 1884 in the Netherlands; parents John Vis and Kate Van Spykin; in the U.S. for 61 years; died at 3:45 p.m. November 17, 1940; cause, cerebral hemorrhage, duration 2 hours; buried at Le Mars, Iowa.

Her FindaGrave.com page has Dirkje “Dora” Vis Berkenpas; born 30 Aug 1864 in the Netherlands; died 17 Nov 1939; buried in Memorial Cemetery, Le Mars, Iowa. There is a photo of her headstone, which also gives her life dates as 1864-1939, clearly erroneous, since her obit and death certificate say 1940. Husbands John Van Laar (1862-1926, married 1883) and Sipke Berkenpas (1854-1929, married 1898). Seven children listed: Frederick Van Laar (1885-1963), Catherina Van Laar Starkenburg (1886-1965), Gertie Berkenpas Starkenburg (1896-1981), William Berkenpas (1899-1993), Anna Berkenpas DeZeeuw (1901-1983), Dorothy Berkenpas Baartman (1902-1973), and Bert Berkenpas (1905-1976).

Her FindaGrave page also contains photos of articles in the Alton Democrat, 2 Sept 1893, 9 Feb 1895, and 4 May 1895, concerning John Van Laar’s desertion of his wife and family, their conveyance to the poor farm, and her subsequent divorce. She and a little son were still living at the poor farm in January 1895 (Alton Democrat, 12 Jan 1895). John Van Laar’s FindaGrave page includes another Alton Democrat article, 26 Aug 1893, on his skipping town for Chicago. He later lived in Crocker, Iowa, and died in 1926 when his auto was hit by a train.

It appears that Dirkje actually married Sipke Berkenpas in December 1895. De Volksvriend (Orange City), 12 Dec 1895, announces a marriage license issued for Sipke Berkenpas (43) and Dirkje Vis (33).

WieWasWie.nl has a birth index record for Dirkje Vis, parents Jan Vis, age 49, a day-laborer, and Trijntje van Spijkeren; born 31 Aug 1864 at Westeinde, Gelderland.

The 1900 U.S. census shows Sepke Berkenpas (age 46), immigrated from the Netherlands in 1888, naturalized, farming in Fountain Prairie, Pipestone County, Minnesota, with wife Dirkje (39), immigrated in 1885, son Jake (18) from a first marriage, daughter Gerretye (3), born in Iowa, son Weinant (11/12), born in Minnesota, and adopted son Albert Vanlaa (6), born in Iowa. The family is still living there in 1910 (names given as Samuel and Dora). In 1920 Sipke (66), Dirke (54), and their two youngest children are living in Orange City; he is retired. In 1930 Dirkje (65) and Bert (23), a farm laborer, are living in Orange City. She was not readily located in the 1940 census.