DE JONG, DENNIS F. AND MALINDA (VAN GROOTHEEST)
Dennis and Malinda De Jong moved 10 Sioux Center in the spring of 1986, just six months after Dennis accepted the position as Sioux Center's first Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce.
Dennis is a Sioux County native, raised on a farm near Ireton, went to Ireton Christian School, and is a 1974 graduate of Unity Cristian High. His career progressed from car service work to sales, and in 1981 he began as a Livestock Production Specialist for Farmland Industries. Then in November, 1985 Dennis accepted the position as the Sioux Center Chamber of Commerce's first Executive Director and remained in that position until June, 1989. At this time he yielded to the temptation to once again become involved in agriculture by becoming a Territory Manager for Hubbard Milling Company. He was given the responsibility of calling on the Hubbard feed dealerships in northwest IA.
Malinda De Jong (Van Grootheest) is a native of Lyon County and was raised on a farm near Doon, IA. She attended school at Rock Rapids and is a 1976 graduate of Central Lyon High School. Malinda, (known to most as "Lin") chose nursing as her career and completed her training at the Sioux Valley School of Nursing in 1979. Soon after graduation Lin accepted a RN position as a staff nurse at the Hegg Memorial Hospital at Rock Valley, IA. Lin was honored in the fall of 1989 for ten years of service at Hegg Memorial.
Dennis and Lin De Jong, Davis, Lisa, and
Dustin.
Dennis De Jong and Malinda Van Grootheest were married August 31, 1979 and resided in Ireton, IA for over seven years. On June 9, 1983, their first child, Dustin Alan, was born. Dustin was the first grandchild on Lin's side of the family and the first with the De Jong name on Dennis' side. Nearly two years later on April 12, 1985 their second child, Lisa Beth was born. Many acquaintances referred to this one-of-each-gender family as a "million dollar family" and as the bills came pouring in the De Jongs soon learned why. However they soon decided children were worth it at any price and three years later, on April 22, 1988 they were blessed with another boy whom they named Davis Martin.
The De Jongs enjoy outdoor activities such as cooking on a grill, bicycling, fishing, and horseback riding. But most of all they enjoy camping! Every chance they get they take off as a family to a nearby campground and leave all else behind. Throughout the years they've grown from taking horses and pitching a tent to a 25-foot self-contained travel trailer, Dennis and Dustin still manage to take a couple of "real" camping trips each year by taking Lin's father's horses out to a remote area near the Rock River and pitching a tent. Lin's grandmother owns a farm with a large pasture where the Rock River runs through where wildlife can usually be seen and nature can truly be appreciated. Lin believes however that this beauty can be appreciated by day and says she has no desire to sleep out there.
At home the De Jongs each enjoy some of their own personal hobbies as well. Lin enjoys reading novels and cross-stitching. Dennis enjoys wood working and landscaping. Keeping with the times Dustin collects "Micro Machines" and Lisa has an unending inventory of the forever famous "Barbie" doll paraphernalia. Davis of course is in that carefree stage of life where nothing matters but a clean diaper and dirty high-chair tray.
As Dennis and Malinda celebrated their tenth year of marriage in the year of 1989, and Dennis states, "we can only conclude that God has richly blessed us. Not only with the luxuries we enjoy but with healthy active children and great friends and family with which to share them."
by Dennis F. & Malinda De Jong