September 15, 2021 | Lynden Tribune (WA)
Section: Obituaries
Hermina "Mina" (Kooiman) DeBruin, of Lynden, passed away on Saturday, September 11, at the age of 94. Mina was born on May 21, 1927, to Willem and Jennigjen (Hubers) Kooiman in Pease, Minnesota. Mina's parents had 4 girls before Jenngien passed away when Mina was only 4 years old. Willem remarried to Violet Evelyn Ruud in 1933 and they had 6 children together. Mina often talked of the hard times the large family experienced during the depression years and she spoke of witnessing the birth of her twin half-sisters born at home.
On November 2, 1944, Mina married John Peter DeBruin in Alvord, Iowa. While farming in Iowa, Mina and John had six children: 5 boys and 1 girl. Mina often spoke of how they did not have running water in the house until 1955 and that use of an outhouse was routine. In 1959 the family moved from Iowa to Everson, Washington where they continued farming and had 1 more boy. In 1966 they sold the family farm to the oldest son, and they bought another farm near Sumas, Washington. In 1983 John and Mina retired, moved to Lynden, and sold the family farm to the 2 youngest sons.
Mina delighted in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was an excellent cook and baker which she did daily for her large family. Mina was a hardworking, strong-spirited woman who enjoyed her family first, but also enjoyed working at JC Penney for many years, and later at Celebrations! and Van's Hardware. She volunteered at The Hope Chest often and she was a charter member of the Lynden Netherlands Reformed Church. When she could no longer attend church in person she listened to the service over her phone.
Mina was preceded in death by her husband John in 2002, son Robert in 2012, daughter-in-law Kathy in 2003, grandson Graham in 1987, grandson Nicholas in 1988, sisters Gertrude in 1991 and Cornelia in 2004, stepbrothers Dennis in 1994, James in 2012, Ronald in 2013, William in 2014 and stepsister Elaine in 2016.
We want to thank the staff at Meadow Greens for lovingly caring for Mom the last six years and we want to thank Hospice for their loving care in the final days. Family visitation will be at 5 to 8 PM on Thursday, September 16th at Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services. A Graveside service will be at 10 AM on Friday, September 17th at Monumenta Cemetery followed by an 11 AM memorial service at the Netherlands Reformed Church, 8581 Depot Rd, Lynden, WA 98264. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local Hospice.
Arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Lynden.
Obituary
Jurrens Funeral Home Garrit De Bruin, age 84 of Rock Rapids, IA died Sunday, July 19, 2009 at the Rock Rapids Health Centre in Rock Rapids, IA. Funeral service will be 9:30 AM, Friday, July 24th at Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids, IA, with Rev. H. Hofman officiating. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery in Doon, IA. Visitation will be Thursday, July 23rd from 2:00 to 8:00 PM, with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids. In Lieu of flowers memorials are preferred.
Garrit De Bruin was born May 9, 1925 near Maurice, Iowa, the son of John Peter and Maria (Beukhof) De Bruin. He attended country school and helped his family with the farming duties. At age eleven, he and his family moved to a farm east of Alvord, IA.
On December 29, 1948 Garrit was united in marriage to Marlys Postma at the Rock Rapids Community Building. Together they lived and farmed various places in the area until moving to a farm south of Rock Rapids, IA in 1967. Garrit retired from farming in 1994 and he and Marlys moved to a home in Rock Rapids. Garrit was a member of the Netherlands Reformed Church in Sioux Center, IA. Besides farming, he enjoyed going to the salebarns, trucking with his pick up and trailer, driving through the country and checking on the family farm daily until his health declined. He loved spending time with family and friends, especially his grandchildren. In late December of 2008, Garrit entered the Rock Rapids Health Care Centre where he remained until this past Sunday, July 19, 2009 when he died at the age of 84.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Maria De Bruin; four sisters, Jennie Teunissen, Clara De Vries, infant Marie De Bruin and Irene Rietsma; five brothers, Tom De Bruin, Albert De Bruin, Henry John De Bruin, John Peter De Bruin and Jacob De Bruin.
