Gertrude “Gert” Bruynes, 86, Luverne, died Monday, March 8, 2021, at her home in Luverne.
A funeral service was Friday, March 12, at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. Burial followed at Memory Gardens near Luverne.
Gertrude Berghorst was born Oct. 21, 1934, to Sidney and Marie (Vlieger) Berghorst in Oldebrook, Netherlands. She was baptized at the Reformed Church in the Netherlands. In July of 1948, when Gert was 14, her family came to America on the New Amsterdam ship and settled in Versailles, Missouri. The family relocated to Hull, Iowa, in 1951.
On Sept. 20, 1954, Gertrude married Jacob Bruynes at the Rock County Courthouse in Luverne. The young couple started their married life on a farm west of Luverne until moving to Hardwick in 1963. Gertrude was confirmed on Nov. 21, 1965, at the Hardwick Lutheran Church. Jacob and Gertrude were blessed with five children. Gertrude remained in Hardwick until 2010 when she and her daughter Vicki moved into a condominium in Luverne.
Gertrude was a hard worker. She was a housewife, she cleaned houses, was a custodian for Zion Lutheran Church in Hardwick, as well as both the Mary Jane Brown Home and the Minnesota Veterans Home. She also was employed with Fey Industries in Edgerton for five years.
Gertrude was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne and was active in many church activities. She enjoyed knitting, gardening, and playing cards, especially with the condo ladies. Gertrude loved a clean house and thought her house was never clean enough. She was also an animal lover and cared for injured animals. She loved square dancing and walking with her sister Fran for as long as she was able. More than anything, she loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was proud of them all.
Gert is survived by her children Deb Fick of Woodbury, Vicky Bruynes of Luverne, Jacob (Terri) Bruynes of Hardwick, and Susan (Lee) Bitterman-Bruynes of Mitchell, South Dakota; nine grandchildren, Ryan (Kristy) Fick, Melissa Fick-Dorn, Lisa (Luke) Lien, Jacob (Katie) Bruynes, Caleb (Tricia) Bruynes, Jonathan (Mickie) Tooley, Jamison (Sarah) Tooley, Kyle (Andrea) Bitterman, and Nicole (Thomas) Argubright; 14 great-grandchildren; and siblings Frances Vos of Luverne, Henry Berghorst of Benson, Martin (Judy) Berghorst of Wilmar, Arthur (special friend Pat) Berghorst of Canby, John (Sheila) Berghorst of Canby, Mary Wiering of Alexandria, and Jack (Julie) Berghorst of Canby.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jake; daughter Martha Bruynes; sisters Wilma DeBoer and Minnie Hubbling; and brother Frank Berghorst.
Funeral arrangements were provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, hartquistfuneral.com.
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