Gertrude Margaret Kooiker was born on August 18, 1937, to Peter and Clazina (Bodewitz-Franken) Bloemendaal on the family farm north of Lake Wilson, Minnesota, Murray County. She grew up in the Lake Wilson area, attending District 23 School and graduating from Lake Wilson High School in 1955. On October 28, 1955, she was united in marriage to Jacob Kooiker at Chandler Reformed Church in Chandler,…
