Nelva Ver Mulm Ribbens

Nelva Ver Mulm Ribbens, 77, of Sioux Center, IA, formerly of Rock Valley, IA died Sunday, September 29, 2013, at her Franken Manor residence in Sioux Center. A visitation will be held on Tuesday from 4-8PM, with the family present from 5-7PM at the Memorial Funeral Home. A prayer service for family and friends will be held on Wednesday at 1PM at the Faith Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center. Interment will follow the prayer service in Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley. A memorial service will be held Wednesday at 2:30PM at Faith Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Bernie Haan officiating. The family prefer memorials be directed to Hope Haven or The Foster Grandparent program. Nelva Joan Ribbens was born on June 17, 1936 to Louis and Gertrude (Vermeer) Vander Sluis at the family home near Inwood, Iowa. She was raised on the family farm and attended country schools through the eighth grade. Nelva graduated from Canton High School in Canton, South Dakota in 1954. During her high school years, Nelva worked at Amundson's Grocery Store in Canton. Nelva married Harold Ver Mulm on October 16, 1956 in Canton. The couple made their home near Rock Valley, Iowa. Over the years, Nelva worked at K-Products and Valley Manor Nursing Home in Rock Valley, and Sioux Center Community Hospital in Sioux Center. Nelva was a Foster Grandparent for five years, which she enjoyed very much. Nelva made profession of her faith In Jesus Christ as her Savior at the First Reformed Church of Inwood. She attended First Reformed Church in Rock Valley until moving to Sioux Center. While living in Sioux Center she attended Central Reformed Church until her marriage to Ted Ribbens when she joined him in attending Faith Christian Reformed Church. Nelva had many friends at Franken Manor Independent Living Center, played board games and took part in many activities. Survivors include her husband, Ted Ribbens of Sioux Center; her five children and their spouses: Duane (Sherry) Ver Mulm of Rock Valley, Sharon (Warren) Kroontje of Sioux Falls, SD, David (Debra) Ver Mulm of Hull, Lois (John) Rassel of Hawarden, Gale (Steven) Boldt of Iowa City, IA; 15 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; two brothers: Jim (Frieda) Vander Sluis of Rock Valley, Dennis and Karen Vander Sluis of Le Mars; a sister-in-law, Caroline (Bud) Vander Schaaf of Sun City, CA. Also left to cherish her memory from the Ribbens family are step-children and their spouses: Marilynn Ribbens of Sioux Center, Barbara and Ken Addink of Sioux Center, Larry and Paula Ribbens of Orange City, Sherry and Philip Brummel of Hull and Don and Linda Ribbens of Saronville, NE; 31 step-grandchildren; 40 step great grandchildren. Nelva is preceded in death by her first husband, Harold Ver Mulm; her parents, Louis and Gertrude Vander Sluis; a brother, John Vander Sluis and step-son, Tim Ribbens.