Alyda Vande Vegte

Alyda Vande Vegte, 100, of Sioux Center, IA died Thursday, September 18, 2014, at Royale Meadows Care Center of Sioux Center. A visitation will be held on Sunday from 2-8PM, with the family present from 3-5PM at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center. A prayer service for family and friends will be held on Monday at 10:00AM at the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center. Interment will follow the prayer service in Memory Gardens of Sioux Center. A memorial service will be held on Monday at 11:00AM at the First Reformed Church with Rev. Travis Else officiating. The Vande Vegte family prefers memorials to Royale Meadows Care Center, c/o Sioux Center Health Foundation or Sioux Center Home Health & Hospice. Alyda Vande Vegte was born December 18, 1913, to Jan and Aleida (Rozendaal) Harskamp in Sioux Center, Iowa. She was the youngest of ten children. The family came to America in 1910 with nine children and three step children. They farmed near Ireton, Iowa until Alyda was 16, then they moved into Sioux Center. Alyda married Henry Vande Vegte on October 11, 1934. They farmed near Rock Valley for several years. Later they moved to Michigan and California where Henry worked as a carpenter and dairyman. In 1948, they moved back to a farm by Hawarden and Middleburg, Iowa. From the farm they moved into Sioux Center where Alyda started "The Economy Shop", a consignment clothing store, in their basement. In retirement Alyda and Henry had fun buying, refinishing and selling antique furniture. Alyda will be remembered for her cooking, baking, crocheting, rug making and fishing at their lake home on Silver Lake. Her quick wit brought laughter to everyone. She entertained many with songs she played by request on her harmonica. The joy of her life was her family. Survivors include five children: Arnold Vande Vegte of Rock Valley, Loretta Vermeer of Sioux Center, Russell and Helen Vande Vegte of Sioux Center, Sharon and Doc Watson of Bellevue, NE and Doug and Wanda Vande Vegte of Alton; son-in-law, Arlyn Mulder of Sioux Center; 24 grandchildren, 66 great grandchildren, 14 great-great grandchildren and close family friend, Adrian Punt. She was preceded in death by Henry in 1999; daughter, Viola Mulder; daughters-in-law: Donna Vande Vegte and Shirley Vande Vegte; sons-in-law: Clarence De Roon and Marv Vermeer; one step sister, Effie (Jake) Vierwinden; two step brothers: Dick and Gilbert Harskamp; four sisters: Winnie (Ring) Wallenburg, Jennie (Rochus) Schelling, Hattie (Pete) Van Der Weide, Minnie (Rich) Van Ravenswaay; six brothers: Henry (Emma) Harskamp, Jake (Bess) Harskamp, Gerrit (Hermina) Harskamp, Ed (Marie) Harskamp, Bert (Agnes) Harskamp, John Harskamp (in infancy).