- Moeder Gijsbertje is GerK en woont - 1878-92 Bennekom 219, 23-7-1892 VSA.
He married Mary Bilsland February 2, 1926 in Primghar, Iowa. He farmed in Iowa for several years. They spent 12 years in Oregon, California, and Iowa. In 1946 they moved to Chandler and farmed until he retired in1973. After moving to Chandler he enjoyed some traveling.
Survivors include his wife Mary and a daughter Sadie (Mrs. Louis Douma) 3 grandsons, Steve, David, and Donald; 1 granddaughter, Julie Douma of Chandler; 4 great grandsons and 1 great granddaughter. Also surviving are 2 sisters: Mrs. Coba Finn of Atlanta, Georgia; Mrs. Willie Kliever of Albany, Oregon; and one brother, Henry of Salem, Oregon.
He was preceded in death by his parents, 4 brothers and 2 sisters.
On February 2, 1926, she was united in marriage to Stever Overman. Following their marriage, they farmed near Archer, Iowa for a few years and then moved to the West Coast, living in California and Oregon for several years. They moved to Minnesota in 1946, settling on a farm in Fenton Township of Murray County, near Chandler. They farmed there until retiring in the mid-1970’s and moved into Chandler. Steve preceded her in death in 1990. Mary was admitted to the Pipestone County Medical Center early on Friday, June 14, 1996. She died there later that same day at the age of 91 years, 6 months and 22 days.
She enjoyed having neighbors and friends in for lunch and playing games. She is lovingly remembered by her daughter, Sadie, and her husband Louis Douma, of rural Chandler. three grandsons, Steve and Peggy Douma, David Douma, and Don and Vickie Douma, all of Chandler; one granddaughter, Julie and Scott Hartle of Chandler; seven great-grandchildren; one sister, Bea Tara, Aptos, CA; one brother Albert Bilsland, Marcus, IA; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Steve; a sister, Jennie Postma; and four brothers, Mottie, Bill, Herbert and John Bilsland.
Hazel Overman, the daughter of Henry and Mae (McGranahan) Merley, was born Oct. 22, 1908, in her parents farm near Sheldon. She received her education in a country school and graduated from Sheldon High School.
On Nov. 24, 1927, she was united in marriage to John Overman Jr., at Sheldon United Methodist Church. After their marriage, the couple farmed north of Sanborn and later west of Sheldon. In 1944, they moved to Salem, Ore., where they resided until John's death on Jan. 21, 1990. Hazel returned to Sheldon in November 1990. She made her home in Sheldon until January 1997, when she entered Prairie View Home in Sanborn. She was a member of United Methodist Church in Salem.
Hazel is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Florence Verrips of Sheldon and Mrs. Gladys Vos of Calimesa, Calif.; three brothers, Glen Merley of Spirit Lake, Iowa, and John Merley and his wife, Mildred and Louis Merley and his wife, Bonnie, all of Sheldon; a sister-in-law, Gertrude Merley of Sheldon; a special nephew, Gerald Thorman and his family of Sheldon; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.
In addition to her husband, she was also preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Robert and Joe Merley; and three sisters, Mrs. Leta Carl, Mrs. Beulah Jacobs and Mrs. Mary Bilsland.
Sioux City Journal
Courtesy of Lance and Megan Raffety Veldboom
