Hermina Bleyenberg

Hermina Bleyenberg, 102, of Sioux Center, Iowa died Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at the Royale Meadows Care Center of Sioux Center. A visitation with family present will be held on Friday from 8:30AM to 9:30AM at Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center. A funeral service will be held on Friday at 9:30AM at Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center with Rev. R. Van Rathbun officiating. Interment will follow the service in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Sioux Center. Hermina Arta Bleyenberg was born on October 28, 1909 to John and Hattie (Zoet) Rens at the family farm south east of Sioux Center. Both John and Hattie emigrated from Holland in the 1880's. Hermina attended a rural country school until the age of 10 years. The family moved to Sioux Center and she continued her education at the Sioux Center Christian School. On February 1, 1934, Hermina married Dick Bleyenberg, Sr. Together, they made their home in northwest Sioux Center. They raised their only child, Dick Bleyenberg, Jr. on the family farm. The couple loved to garden, raise flowers and took pride in keeping the lawn manicured. In retirement, they enjoyed spending their winters in McAllen TX, making new friends and visiting with their other snowbird friends. After Dick passed away, Hermina continued to garden spending many hours hand watering her vegetable plants and flowers. She received many awards and ribbons for entering her produce and flowers in the county fair. She enjoyed selling her vegetables and giving many away to friends and family. She also continued to travel to Texas for many years. In 1995, she moved to The New Homestead where she continued to grow flowers and vegetables as much as she could. In 2007, she moved to Franken Manor where she enjoyed living in close proximity to her friends. In May 2011, she moved to Royale Meadows Nursing Home. Hermina was very proud of her ability to exercise daily with walking to "town" until her admission to Royale Meadows. In addition to her age milestone, she was a 26 year breast cancer survivor. She loved everyone who took care of her and loved to tell a good story. Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Dick (Nella) Bleyenberg, Jr. of Rock Valley, IA, three granddaughters and five great grandchildren: Michelle (Brett) Swensen and their children Victoria, Andrew, and Calista of Eden Prairie, MN; Charlotte (Randy) Kooima and their children Alexis and Taryn of Sioux Center, IA; Dr. Julie (Matt) Bleyenberg-Klein of Dover, NH, a sister, Jeanette Van Middendorp of Wadena, MN and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents; four brothers and two sisters.