Dorothy Van Der Weerd

Dorothy Van Der Weerd was born on March 3, 1930, to Gerrit and Jennie (Hein) Reurink in Colton, South Dakota. She was the sixth child of eight. Her father, who had operated an implement store, died when she was sixteen, leaving their mother with several children still at home. She learned from her mother to work hard and to economize, skills she applied throughout her life. She graduated from Colton High School in 1948, and worked as a hired girl for some young families and in a drug store, where she especially enjoyed serving at the soda fountain. 

She met Henry Van Der Weerd at Dutchman’s Night at the roller rink in Sioux Falls, and they were married on June 4, 1953. They lived and worked on the farm where Henry had grown up, raising three children, LeAnn, Janelle, and Tom. Her children recall her teaching them to sing hymns from memory as they worked together in the garden. In 1969, Henry and Dorothy built a new ranch style house on the farm, doing much of the work themselves, from shingling to putting up sheetrock. 

Dorothy was an excellent cook and baker. Once she knew that someone liked a certain food, she never forgot and always made a point to have it for them. Even in her last years, she was always concerned about what she was going to serve her visitors with coffee. 

While she was usually pretty serious and concerned about doing things the right way, when she was tickled, she had a hearty laugh that was great to hear. 

Henry and Dorothy moved to Rock Rapids in 1987, and Tom and his family moved to the farm. In 2018 Henry and Dorothy moved to Bethany Meadows Assisted Living at Brandon. Henry passed away on December 20, 2020. On Saturday, March 30, 2024, Dorothy passed away at Bethany Meadows at the age of 94 years and 27 days.

Dorothy was a member of the Steen Reformed Church, where she was active as a member of the ladies’ aid, teaching Vacation Bible School, and enjoyed their Sunday evening small group. Hymns she recited often were “Trust and Obey” and “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” 

Henry and Dorothy enjoyed traveling, for a number of years with their fifth wheel camper. They saw much of the United States, including Alaska. They took several trips to Canada and also visited extended family in the Netherlands. But a highlight of their retirement years was spending winters in Mesa, Arizona, where they developed wonderful friendships and also loved hosting family for visits. 

Dorothy took great pleasure in her family, always asking for details about the grandchildren and their families. She enjoyed every chance to visit with them and loved hosting tea parties for Maddie and Karlie, who lived nearby, and taking them to McDonalds and Pizza Ranch. 

Dorothy is survived by her daughters, LeAnn (Dennis) Strother of Hampton, Iowa, and Janelle (Bob) Sneller of Parker, South Dakota; son, Tom (Dolly) Van Der Weerd of Rock Rapids; seven grandchildren, Kyle (Celia) Butson of Skokie, Illinois, Andrea (Daniel) Stember of Louisville, Kentucky, Deric (Rebecca) Sneller of Kaiserslautern, Germany, Jared Sneller (and fiancé Desiree McDugle) of Parker, Lanae (Jeremy) McBroom of Chatfield, Minnesota, Lance (Brittany) Van Der Weerd of Rock Rapids, and Kayla Van Der Weerd of Rochester, Minnesota, three step-grandchildren, Tyler (Mandy) Strother and Scott (Becky) Strother of Hampton, and Stacy (Will) Farmer of North Liberty, Iowa; 11 great-grandchildren; 5 step-great-grandchildren; sisters, Jeanette Farr of Sioux Falls, and Carrie (Don) Hanneman of Dell Rapids; sisters-in-law, Wilma DeRoo of Brandon, Henrietta Timmer of Sioux Falls, Edna Jongerius of Sioux Falls, and Mae Tinklenberg of Palo Alto, California; along with many nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry; parents; brothers, Henry Reurink and Frank Reurink; sisters, Fannie Deelstra, Tony Vander Plaats, and Francis Prince; and numerous brothers and sisters-in-law.

The family suggests memorial gifts be designated to the Atlas of Lyon County or the Steen Reformed Church cemetery fund.