Bernard H. Sandbulte

BERNARD HENRY SANDBULTE was born October 16, 1923 to Henry and Minerva (Wesselink) Sandbulte near Carmel, IA. He attended Carmel School through the 8th grade and worked on the family farm until he was drafted into the United States Air Force in January of 1944. Bernard served his country as a waist gunner and flew 32 missions over Germany. He achieved the rank of Staff Sargent and was honorably discharged in November of 1945. Bernard was united in marriage to Leona DeBoer in Sioux Center, IA on December 12, 1945. The couple began farming near Maurice, IA for the first five years of their marriage, then near Boyden, IA for five years. They then bought a farm near Luverne, MN. The couple lived and worked on the farm while raising their seven children. Bernard loved farming and buying feeder cattle for himself and for others at area sale barns for many years. Though Bernard “retired” in 1988 his heart stayed on the land and he loved being there to help his boys. In April of 2010, Bernard became a resident of the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne, where on Tuesday, April 16, 2013 he died peacefully at the age of 89 years and six months.

Bernard was a Charter member of the American Reformed Church in Luverne and was the chairman of the building committee for the first new church. He served as an Elder and as a Deacon and taught Sunday School for many years. Bernard loved the Lord and shared this with his family. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Bernard will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Leona; and his seven children, Judy (Harlan) Van Meeteren of Harrisburg, SD, Myrna (Albert) Hoogland of Garretson, SD, Lynda (Ron) Van Ruler of Steen, MN, Henry (Virginia) Sandbulte of Jasper, MN, Willis (Barb) Sandbulte of Adrian, MN, Gerald (Charla) Sandbulte of Hardwick, MN, and Warren (Carol) Sandbulte of Luverne; 20 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; seven siblings, Johanna (Arnie) Punt of Sioux Center, IA, Delmer (Betty) Sandbulte of Rock Valley, IA, Lois Van Maanen of Rock Valley, IA, Norma (John) Boogard of Hull, IA, Henrietta (Arnold) Van Kley of Rock Valley, IA, Carol (Clarence) Van Voorst of Hull, IA and Muriel (Bob) Oostra of Hull, IA; and numerous other family. He was preceded in death by his infant twins, Janice and Janet; grandson, Brett Van Ruler; granddaughter, Ranae Sandbulte; parents; and three brothers, Jim, Milton, and Kenneth Sandbulte.