BUYERT, NICK AND HERMINA "MINNIE" (KEMPERS)
Nick Buyert was the eldest son born to Aart Buyert and Lubberta Buyert at Kampen, the Netherlands, on April 8, 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Aart Buyert (spelled Buijert in the Netherlands, and meaning "tender of the buoy (Dutch: boei) warning when stormy weather did rise the water of the Zuiderzee to a level which threatens the dikes") came to America with their children (4) by boat in the year 1904. They settled in the Leota, Minnesota area where Aart Buyert was a "timmerman en metzelaar" by trade. Nick Buyert often assisted his father by carrying "mud" for the brick laying industry for a wage of 25c per day, and also with the carpentry. Nick Buyert completed his grade school in the Netherlands where classes were held the year around, but also attended school in America. He was a veteran of World War I, serving in 1917 and 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Aart Buyert moved from Leota, Minnesota to Sioux Center after 1922 where they resided until their death in 1940 and 1942 respectively.
Hermina "Minnie" Kempers, the second eldest daughter of Barney and Lillian Kempers, was born on June 26, 1894 at Hull, IA and attended a rural school near Hull. Nick Buyert was introduced to Minnie Kempers by a friend, Bert Broek, who married Dena Kempers, Minnie's sister, five years earlier. The Buyert family were acquaintances and friends in the Netherlands. The Broek family also exited the homeland and settled abroad in the Sioux Center area at approximately the same time. Nick Buyert was united in marriage to Minnie Kempers on March 15, 1922, at Hull, Iowa. They first farmed in the southwest Sioux Center area for a short time and then moved to a farm located one mile north and three and one-half west of Sioux Center. In 1930 they moved to the farm three miles north and one-half west of Sioux Center. To this union eight children were born, one twin dying in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Nick Buyert
The farming operation was all done by hand and horses during the early years before the machinery age. Cows wars milked by hand, hogs were slopped, chickens fed, grain shocked, corn picked and hay put up by hand, and prices were at a very minimum. Mother supported the family by churning her own butter, baked her own bread, did their own butchering, sewed all the family clothes. They had cob and wood stoves for heating, cooking and baking, and kerosene lamps for lighting.
Lubertha Buyert was born October 29, 1923 at rural Sioux Center. She attended country school at rural Sioux Center. After graduation in 1936 she assisted at home, being eldest in the family, and also did some day labor at various homes. In the fall of 1942 she began working at the Oelrich Hospital, employed in the laundry, housekeeping and dietary departments. This was the decade before disposables, or cooking with box mixes, or polyesters, and the laundry dryer was the great out-of-doors. The Hospital closed in the summer of 1943 and she enrolled in Western Christian High in September of that year. She graduated in 1946 and attended summer school at Westmar College to earn a teaching certificate. In the fall of 1946 Dr. C.D. Oelrich returned from the Service and she began employment at his Clinic, continuing until his retirement in 1968. Thereafter she was employed at the Sioux Center News for two years. In 1970 she started secretarial work at First National Bank which position she continues until the time of this writing.
Lillian (Buyert) Klarenbeek was born on March 12, 1925 at rural Sioux Center. She attended country school from kindergarten through 7th grade and the 8th grade at the Sioux Center Christian School. She married Dick Klarenbeek on June 5, 1967. They farmed in the Rock Rapids area until 1970. Thereafter they moved to Sioux Center where they now reside. Dick worked for Sioux Preme Pack for 12 years until he retired.
Gertrude (Buyert) Intveld was born on January 24, 1927 at rural Sioux Center. Her twin sister, Dena, passed away at birth. She attended country school from kindergarten through 5th grade and completed grade school at the Sioux Center Christian School. She married James M. Intveld on August 30, 1950. They farmed near Hull until Jim was called to service in 1951. After serving until 1953 they moved to a farm southeast of Rock Rapids where they presently reside. To this union six children were born - Dwayne, Bonita, Nancy, Marcia, Donna, and Gary.
Barney John Buyert was born on April 5, 1929 at rural Sioux Center. He attended country school and Sioux Center Christian School. Barney married Carolyn Lois Hulstein on February 8, 1950. They farmed northwest of Sioux Center throughout until the present time. To this union five children were born - Gene, Larry, Jan, Pamela and Dawn. Their eldest son Gene Allen was deceased on July 5, 1957 due to a brain aneurysm.
Hermina (Buyert) Van Der Stoep was born on May 29, 1931 at rural Sioux Center. She grew up in the Sioux Center area and attended Sioux Center Christian School and later graduated from Western Christian High. She also attended Northwestern College and Westmar College. Following her education she taught country school and Sioux Center Christian School. On June 2, 1954 she was united in marriage to Herbert J. VanDer Stoep. They farmed in the Rock Valley, Carmel, Orange City areas before moving to rural Rock Rapids. They had three children - David, Debra, and Donley. David Lee, their eldest, died at birth in 1955. Hermina took ill in the summer of 1989 and passed away on October 30, 1989, at the age of 58 years.
Arthur Buyert was born on November 17, 1933 at rural Sioux Center. He attended Sioux Center Christian School and later graduated from Western Christian High. He served in the U.S. Army for two years, 1955-1957. He married Annetta Joan De Vries at Rock Valley on February 27, 1959. After their marriage they farmed near Carmel until the present time. To this union three children were born - Dan, Darla, and Michael. Arthur sustained a severe brain injury of a fall in a farm accident at their home on December 1, 1989 and passed away on December 5, 1989, at the age of 56 years.
John James Buyert, born on December 27, 1936 was the youngest of the family. He attended Sioux Center Christian School and West Christian High. He served in the U.S. Army from 1959 through 1962. He attended the State University of Iowa at Ames and graduated in 1969 with a degree in Engineering. He married Margaret (Peggy) Jensen on September 30, 1971 at Chicago, Illinois. To this union three children were born - Lucas, Cassie, and Joanna. They have lived in Illinois, Ohio, Iowa, Alaska and Minnesota, and presently roside at Minnetonka, Minnesota.
Nick Buyert was deceased on May 23, 1965 at the age of 73, and Mrs. Hermina "Minnie" Buyert died on November 11, 1989 at the age of 91 years. Their children thank God for their parents who set for them an example - Christian in their faith and Christian in their practice. Blessed be their memory.
by Luberta Buyert
Funeral services were held at Bethel Christian Reformed church here at 1:30 p.m
Wednesday for Nick Buyert, 73, longtime resident of Hull and Sioux Center
Communities, who passed away at the local hospital Sunday.
Services were conducted by the Rev. M. Matheis and burial was made in the Sioux
Center Community cemetery, under the direction of Vander Ploeg's Funeral home.
A brief service, attended by immediate members of the family was held at the
Vander Ploeg Funeral chapel preceding the service at the church.
Hermina "Minnie" Buyert, 91, of Sioux Center died Monday, Nov. 11 in the
nursing wing in Sioux Center.
Services were at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, in Hope Christian Reformed Church
in Hull.
The Rev. William Van Dyken officiated.
Burial was in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Sioux Center.
Family visitation was held at the Memorial Funeral Home in Sioux Center.
Mrs. Buyert, the former Hermina Kempers, was born June 26, 1894, in Hull and
attended rural school near Hull.
She married Nick Buyert March 15, 1922, in Hull.
The couple farmed near Sioux Center. He died May 23, 1965, and she then moved into
Sioux Center.
Mrs. Buyert was a member of Hope Christian Reformed Church of Hull.
-Obituary from The Sioux Center News (11/20/1985)