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Henrietta De Jongh death notice

Lead Summary

Henrietta “Etta” De Jongh, 87, Hills, died Saturday, April 9, 2016, at the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills.
A funeral service was Friday, April 15, at Steen Reformed Church in Steen. Burial followed at Eastside Cemetery near Steen.
Henrietta “Etta” DeJongh was born Sept.18, 1928, to Henry and Wilhemina (Mouw) Fikse on the family farm in Lyon County, Iowa, south of Steen. She attended country school through eighth grade and helped with the family farm. 
On Feb. 18, 1947, Etta married Harvey DeJongh at her parents’ home north of Steen.  The couple farmed for over forty years in Rock County, living southeast of Luverne and north of Beaver Creek.  In 1992 they moved to a home in Hills.  They enjoyed listening to southern gospel music and traveled across the U.S. and overseas. Her husband died in 2008.
Etta loved to visit and interact with people. Beginning in the late 1980s she was employed part time at the Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne. Her 16-year tenure in the activities department produced deep friendships, lots of laughter and many good memories.   She retired at age 79.
Etta was a lifelong member of the Reformed Church of Steen. She devoted her life to church activities, serving as a leader for the Girls League, Youth Group and Reformed Church Women (RCW).  Etta was passionate about The Bible League, where she served as a “Key Lady” for 25 years and coordinated volunteers to serve at their Bible For Missions Thrift Center in Worthington. Etta also volunteered at Center of Hope, served as a 4-H leader for many years, and was a charter member of the Clintonaires Extension Club.
Etta entered the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills in August 2012 and remained there until her death.
She is survived by four children, Ethanie (Ed) Schmidt of Tracy, Nancy (Rich) Van Heerde of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Ronald (Vicki) DeJongh of Chanhassen, and Patty (Dave) Morris of Fridley; ten grandchildren, Michael (Jacqueline) Schmidt of Gaylord, Kelly (Sarah) Schmidt of New Ulm, Steve (Christy) Van Heerde of Estelline, South Dakota, Beth Van Heerde of Sioux Falls, Kasey Jo (Durel) Carstensen of Lake Crystal, Brian Van Heerde of Plymouth, and Autumn Blatz, Sydney DeJongh, Bowe Blatz, and Rayna DeJongh, all of Chanhassen; eight great-grandchildren, Aubree, Kate and Britta Schmidt, Conley and Devon Carstensen, and Riley, Leah and Bailey Van Heerde;  four sisters-in-law: Bertha Fikse of Woodstock, Christina (Toots) Van Iperen of Luverne, Gert DeJongh of Edgerton, and Betty DeJongh of Rock Rapids; a brother-in-law, Norman DeJongh of Luverne; and many other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harvey; three infant children, Conley Gene, Mary Lynn and Connie Mae; a granddaughter Miranda Jo Morris, and three siblings, Dick Fikse, Dena Umland and Andy Fikse.
Arrangements were through Jurrens Funeral Home in Hills, www.jurrensfuneralhome.com
 (0421 F)

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