Clara Den Herder

Clara Den Herder was born May 30, 1926 to Abraham and Elizabeth (Hoogland) Beukelman near Sioux Center, Iowa. She was baptized in the Protestant Reformed Church in Sioux Center, Iowa and later made her profession of faith at the First Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center. She grew up on the family farm and loved her education attending country school and later in life obtained her GED degree. As a young woman she worked for Sam’s Variety Store and the grocery store in Sioux Center, Iowa. Clara met Bert Den Herder in 1944 and the couple was united in marriage on June 24, 1948 at First Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center, Iowa. Their union was blessed with six children and 66 years of marriage together. Following Bert’s graduation from Calvin Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan, the couple served four churches in Canada and two in the United States in Luverne, Minnesota and Kanawha, Iowa. Clara was very active in the ministry of the church and church life. Clara was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend. She served and loved her God, and cared deeply for her family and her home. In 1989, the couple retired in Luverne, Minnesota and remained active in church life. In 2013, they moved to Poplar Creek Apartments in Luverne. Following the onset of health problems, Clara entered the Luverne Hospice Cottage on Wednesday, September 3, 2014. On Friday, September 5, 2014, Clara was taken to Glory with her family by her side at the age of 88 years.

Clara was a member of Luverne Christian Reformed Church where she was active in the life of the congregation serving in Friendship Class and Ladies Bible Study. She enjoyed crochetting, knitting, gardening, reading, playing scrabble, bird watching, and especially enjoyed the time spent with her family and friends.

Clara is lovingly remembered by her husband Rev. Bert Den Herder of Luverne, Minnesota; six children, Lois Vos of Newton, Iowa, Phyllis (and Kenneth) Vos of Luverne, Minnesota, David (and Mittie) Den Herder of Grand Rapids, Michigan, James (and Debra) Den Herder of Luverne, Minnesota, Calvin Den Herder of Luverne, Minnesota, and Mary (Kurt) Harle of Clear Lake, Iowa; 17 grandchildren, Jennifer (and Nick) Breems, Daniel (and Lisa) Vos, Joel (and Christie) Vos, Laura (and Terence) Visser, Kyle (and Amber) Vos, Kristi (and Bruce) Van Dyken, Ruth Den Herder, Mark (and Jennifer) Den Herder, Joshua (and Sandra) Den Herder, Matthew (and Ginger) Den Herder, Lindsay (and Luke) Hayes, Tyler (and Amanda) Den Herder, Trevor (and Chelsi) Den Herder, Colby Den Herder, Cayd Den Herder, Caitlin Harle, and Jacob Harle; 29 great grandchildren, Joya, Jonathan, and William Breems, Justin, Nathanael, and Michael Vos, Josiah and Emily Vos, Annika, Bennett, Ellarie, Reyer, Gavin and Malcolm Visser; Arie, Levi, Case, and Anne Van Dyken, Wyatt and Sadie Vos; Joslyn Den Herder; Sebastian and Ruby Den Herder, Gwynevere, Abigail, Clarabelle, Isaac, and Connor Den Herder, and Evan Hayes; other family and friends.

Clara was preceded in death by her parents, Abraham and Elizabeth; son-in-law, Roger Vos; brothers, Abraham (and Gertie) Beukelman and Alfred (and Katherine) Beukelman; sisters, Alice (who died in childhood), Lena (and Robert) Rens, Alice (and Percy) Bylsma.

Memorials may be directed to the Luke Society or Luverne Christian Reformed Church Evangelism Committee dedicated for the Wayside Chapel.

Glory to God and Blessed be the Memory of Clara Den Herder.