Margaret Deruyter

MARGARET (VAN DYKE) DERUYTER was born to Dries and Mary (Kracht) Van Dyke on November 23, 1935. Margaret was one of seventeen children, the only one to be born in a hospital. She grew up by Ward, South Dakota and attended eight years of school. After school, Margaret worked at an ice cream factory in Sioux Falls, SD and the Tyler Nursing Home before getting married. On October 1, 1955 she was united in marriage to John DeRuyter. That morning, John called Margaret at 6 AM, stating it had rained so they could go get married at the courthouse in Luverne. To this union, fifteen children were born. Margaret was a loving wife to John and a great mother and grandmother to her own and countless others. Truly, the mission of Margaret and John’s lives was dedicated to bringing children to Jesus. They brought carloads to church, ministered to them, sang with them, and taught them to put their faith into action by following His teachings. To say her faith in Christ was strong is an understatement; and she readily shared it with all she encountered. She was very much a prayer warrior, a giver, and loved singing hymns and playing piano. She loved everyone she met, was always willing to help anyone, and was very much a giver. Margaret was an extremely hard worker on the farm: milking cows, gardening, and caring for her chickens. She did daycare in her home until she was 79 years of age. Only later in life, we found out that she was very adventurous and loved car races and riding snowmobile. Margaret was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in July of 2019. She had surgery in September and went through some rough times, but pulled through. She moved to the Good Samaritan Home in Pipestone in November and continued to improve. Margaret always had a great sense of humor, but it was here through fellowship and games that she discovered her competitive spirit. The Lord blessed her family with such a wonderful person that they felt each day with Margaret was truly a gift. On January 9, 2020, Margaret peacefully went to be with her Lord at the age of 84 years, one month, and 17 days.

Margaret is survived by her fifteen children, Deb Gerdes of Holland, Greg (LeeAnne) of Okabena, Barb (Ken) of Hardwick, Bryan (Kym) of Okabena, Brent (Joanne) of Ruthton, Karen (Wayne) of Ruthton, Jeff (Shelli) of Holland, Todd (Osiris) of Holland, Rich (Steph) of Ruthton, Lyn (Special Friend, Kevin) of Thief River Falls, Gary (Bernie) of Lake Benton, Doug (Judy) of Holland, Connie of Holland, Dave (Marge) of Holland, and Chad of Holland; Sixty grandchildren; forty-six great-grandchildren (and five more on the way); as well as one great-great-grandchild on the way; two brothers, John and Albert Van Dyke; one sister; Henrietta DeVriend; many sisters- and brothers-in law; and too many others to mention. Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, John; her parents; thirteen siblings, Alt, Bert, Gerrit, John, Jeanette, Hilda, Bertha, Fred, Gerrit, Bennie, Pete, Andy, and Henry; her son-in-law, David Jasper; and one daughter-in-law, Lynne DeRuyter.