Albertus "Bert" Van Westen

UPDATE: Due to the updated CDC Guidelines, the Bert Van Westen visitation and service will be private events for family only. Please consider leaving a condolence here on Bert's page or sending a card to Ruth and the family. They would love to hear your kind words of sympathy and support during this challenging time.

ALBERTUS "BERT" VAN WESTEN was born on June 19, 1923 to Klaus and Grace (Krull) Van Westen in Rock Rapids, Iowa. He was the third oldest in a family of nine children. He grew up in rural Rock Rapids and attended country school through the 8th grade. Bert worked as a farm hand from 1943 to 1947 and then worked at the Edna Elevator from 1950 to 1951. On December 6, 1952 Bert was united in marriage to Ruth Klaassen at the Salem Reformed Church parsonage in Little Rock, Iowa. In November 1953, he was baptized at the Salem Reformed Church in Little Rock. The couple resided in Rock Rapids for one year after their marriage. They were blessed with two children. In December 1953, the family moved to a farm northwest of Luverne where Bert farmed the land until 1993. He and his son, Keith, continued raising cattle. When neighbors needed help, Bert always said yes. In 2008, Bert and Ruth moved to Luverne where they lived until 2018 when they moved to Parkview Manor Nursing Home in Ellsworth, MN. There they enjoyed many visits from his sisters, other relatives and friends. Bert died at the age of 96 years, 8 months, and 23 days on March 12, 2020 at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage.

Bert was a member of the American Reformed Church in Luverne, Minnesota. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, reading, softball and baseball. He was a big fan of the Minnesota Twins and would often stay up late at night watching the games on TV. Bert was a loving grandpa who put many miles on the Mercury taking trips to Sioux Falls to attend his grandchildren’s many events, including school concerts, T-ball games and birthday parties.

Albertus is survived by his wife, Ruth of 67 years, of Ellsworth, Minnesota; two sons, Keith (Caroline Marion) Van Westen of Luverne, Minnesota, and Kevin (Kathy) Van Westen of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; three grandchildren, Sarah Van Westen, Justin (Amanda) Van Westen, and Brandon (friend, Elizabeth Soukup) Van Westen; two great-grandchildren, Megan and Daniel Van Westen; and two siblings, Inez Rogers of Owatonna, Minnesota, and Shirley (Howard) Heikes of Mantorville, Minnesota. He was preceded in death by six of his siblings: Hilbert Van Westen, Martha Doeden, Russel Van Westen, Raymond Van Westen, Hilda Klaassen and Betty Abuhl.