Rev. Bert Den Herder

REV. BERT DEN HERDER was born December 18, 1923 to Eibert and Tillie (Mol) Den Herder in Sioux Center, IA. He was baptized in the First Reformed Church in Sioux Center, IA and later made his profession of faith there in December of 1941. He attended Sioux Center Public School and later went to Northwestern Classical Academy and Junior College in Orange City, IA. On June 24, 1948 Bert was united in marriage to Clara Beukelman at the First Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center. Their union was blessed with six children. In 1950 Bert enrolled at Calvin College and Calvin Seminary in Grand Rapids, MI. He graduated from seminary in May of 1955 and answered his first call to minister the gospel in a church in Lacombe, Alberta, Canada in October of that same year, where he served until 1960. Bert and Clara moved their growing family as he was called to minister the gospel next to Burnaby from 1960 to 1964 then to Chilliwack, both in British Columbia, Canada from 1964 to 1967. In October of 1967, they moved back to the United States; first in Luverne, MN serving the Christian Reformed Church from 1967 to 1980 and lastly, in Kanawha, IA from 1980 to 1989. In April of 1989 the couple formally retired and settled in Luverne. Reverend Bert continued to remain active in local church life. In 2013, he and Clara moved to the Poplar Creek Apartments in Luverne. After sharing 66 years of marriage with his beloved, Clara, she was taken to Glory on September 5, 2014. Bert continued to reside in their apartment until September 2015, when he became an active resident at Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton, MN where he continued to use his gifts to share God’s word. On Monday, June 25, 2018, Bert entered the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD where on Saturday, June 30, 2018 he was received into His heavenly home at the age of 94 years.

Most recently, Bert was a member of Luverne Christian Reformed Church. He loved being active in the life of the congregations he served and other Christian Reformed Churches whenever he was needed. He enjoyed gardening, reading, and playing scrabble with Clara.

Bert will be lovingly remembered by his six children, Lois Vos of Newton, IA, Phyllis and her husband Kenneth Vos of Luverne, David and his wife Mittie Den Herder of Grand Rapids, MI, James and his wife Debra Den Herder and Calvin Den Herder, all of Luverne, and Mary and her husband Kurt Harle of Clear Lake, IA; 17 grandchildren, Jennifer (Nick) Breems, Daniel (Lisa) Vos, Joel (Christie) Vos, Laura (Terence) Visser, Kyle (Amber) Vos, Kristi (Bruce) Van Dyken, Ruth Den Herder, Mark (Jennifer) Den Herder, Joshua (Sandra) Den Herder, Matthew (Ginger) Den Herder, Lindsay (Luke) Hayes, Tyler (Amanda) Den Herder, Trevor (Chelsi) Den Herder, Colby Den Herder, Cayd Den Herder, Caitlin Harle, and Jacob Harle; 36 great-grandchildren, Joya, Jonathan, and William Breems; Justin, Nathanael, and Michael Vos; Josiah and Emily Vos; Annika, Bennett, Ellarie, Reyer, Gavin and Malcolm Visser; Wyatt, Sadie and Jonathan Vos; Arie, Levi, Case, and Anne Van Dyken; Joslyn and Grant Den Herder; Sebastian and Ruby Den Herder; Gwynevere, Abigail, Clarabelle, Isaac, Connor and Gideon Den Herder; Evan and Quinn Hayes; Monte Den Herder; and Karlee and Raelyn Den Herder; other family and friends. Bert was preceded in death by his wife, Clara; great-granddaughter, Juniper Den Herder; parents, Eibert and Tillie; and a son-in-law, Roger Vos.

Memorials may be directed to the Luke Society or the Luverne Christian Reformed Church Evangelism Committee dedicated for the Wayside Chapel.

May the Glory be to God!