Wilma M. Vander Ploeg-De Ruyter

Wilma Vander Ploeg-De Ruyter, 91, of Sioux Center, IA, died Saturday, 2/18, at the Royale Meadows Care Center in Sioux Center.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, 2/23, at 11am at the Central Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. R. Van Rathbun officiating. Interment will be held prior to the memorial service in West Lawn Cemetery of Orange City.

A prayer service will be held Thursday at the Memorial Funeral Home Funeral at 9:30am.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, 2/22, at the Memorial Funeral Home from 2pm to 8pm, with the family present from 6:30pm to 8pm.

To view an online video of Wilma's life click on the following link. http://videos.lifetributes.com/?id=2577



Wilma Marian (Van Steenbergen) Vander Ploeg De Ruyter was born November 8, 1914 in Hull, Iowa, one of five children born to Gerrit and Sara (Vander Meer) Van Steenbergen. Wilma was raised and educated in Hull, graduating from Hull High School with the Class of 1932. She went on to attend Northwestern Junior College in Orange City, Iowa where she received her teaching certificate. The next four years Wilma taught in rural schools.

On June 8, 1938 she was united in marriage to Stanley Vander Ploeg of Orange City. Wilma and Stan were blessed with three children and made their home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where Stan became Executive Vice-President of Western Surety Co. Sadly, Stan died unexpectedly on April 1, 1952. To provide for her family, Wilma began teaching in Sioux Falls Public Schools. She also enrolled at Augustana College where she received her Bachelors degree in education in 1960. She taught in Sioux Falls for 11 years.

Wilma married James De Ruyter on August 3, 1963. The couple made their home in Sioux Center, Iowa where Wilma taught at Kinsey Elementary School for 17 years before retiring in 1980. Jim preceded her in death on September 19, 1997.

Over the years, Wilma was devoted to her church family, as well as her own family and students. While living in Sioux Falls she was a member of the First Reformed Church and Central Reformed Church in Sioux Center. She spent many years teaching Sunday school, Catechism and Vacation Bible School in both churches. She was an active participant in RCW and sang in Centrals choir for 16 years. While in Sioux Center Wilma belonged to Womans Club and the Retired Teachers Association. She also volunteered at the hospital and at school.

Left to cherish her memory are two sons and daughters-in-law: Dennis and Luann Vander Ploeg of Manchester, MO and Daryl and Dawn Vander Ploeg of Lake Ozark, MO; daughter and son-in-law: Judith and Greg Franken of Sun Prairie, WI; two step sons and daughters-in-law: James and Carla De Ruyter of Waukesha, WI and Larry and Donna De Ruyter of Sioux Falls; step daughter, Carollee Balloun of Chicago, IL; step son-in-law, Howard Schutt of Brookings, SD; along with her 7 grandchildren, 11 step grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, 20 step great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Wilma was preceded in death by her husbands: Stanley Vander Ploeg and James De Ruyter; a stepdaughter, Joan Schutt; step granddaughter, Ann De Ruyter; her parents; two brothers: Dr. Walt Vann and Dale Van Steenbergen; two sisters: Helen McClean and Geneva Overbaugh.