Garneth I. Van Surksum

Garneth Irene Van Surksum was born on September 15, 1942 to Raymond and Della (Gritters) Hulstein on the family farm near Carmel, Iowa. She was baptized that same year at Protestant Reformed Church in Sioux Center, Iowa. Garneth attended Edgerton Christian Grade School in Edgerton, Minnesota. She was confirmed in 1959 at the Protestant Reformed Church in Edgerton. On February 5, 1960 Garneth was united in marriage to Harold Van Surksum at Bethel Reformed Church in Leota, Minnesota. After she and Harold were married, they moved to Chino, California. Garneth cleaned houses and businesses until 1965 when they moved back to Leota where they began farming. While on the farm, Garneth was willing to help any place she was needed. In 1980, she received her GED. In the late 1980’s, she started working at the rest home in Worthington, Minnesota, and over the years spent a great deal of her time nurturing others and offering care. This included caring for Margaret Gunnick in her final years, as well as for Warren Herreid more recently. In addition to her own grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Garneth embraced Zach and Liam Brown as part of her family and loved being their caregiver when they were young.

Garneth spent several years working retail as well, including time at Creeger’s and True Value in Luverne, and Steinmart and Gordmans in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, but her heart was repeatedly pulled back to the caregiver role. On Tuesday, January 22, 2019, while under care at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage, Garneth went to be with her Lord at the age of 76 years, four months and seven days.

Garneth was a member of the American Reformed Church in Luverne. During their time on the farm, they attended Bethel Reformed Church in Leota. She was a Sunday school teacher for many years. She and Harold were both RCYF sponsors for many years. Her joy was her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Garneth is lovingly remembered by her husband Harold Van Surksum; 4 children, Gwen Van Surksum of Sioux Falls, Garvin (Becky) Van Surksum of Chandler, Minnesota, Rick (Jacci) Van Surksum of Bullard, Texas, and Renita (Jerod) Enninga of Luverne; 12 grandchildren, Darcy (Chad) Hoff, Dean Moss, Jamey (Tasha) Moss, Brandi (Travis) Barnes, Cody Moss, Kim (Jesse) Van Hofwegan, Kathy Van Surksum, Austin Van Surksum, Julia (Trevor) English, Rachel Van Surksum, Lucas Enninga, and Katie Enninga; 13 great-grandchildren, Dylan, Marshal, and Logan Hoff, Nataleah, Aden, Stanleigh, and Nevaeh Moss, Levi, Max, Mason, and Colter Van Hofwegan, and Ellia and Avie English; siblings, Marge Mesman of Edgerton, Ray Jr. Hulstein of Edgerton, Lenard (Jean) Hulstein of Chandler, Delmar (Faye) Hulstein of Edgerton, LeRoy (Faye) Hulstein of Woodstock, Sharon Struiksma of Belflower, California, Ivy (Vern) Bolt of Boise, Idaho, and Karon (Lee) Blom of Pipestone, Minnesota; sisters-in-law, LaVonne Hulstein of Leota and Arlene Hulstein of Edgerton. She was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond Sr. and Della; brothers, Gary and Ed Hulstein; sisters, Alberta Broek and Lois Buyert; brothers-in-law, Corrnie Broek, Barney Buyert, Pete Struiksma, and Arvin Mesman; and sister-in-law, Telena Hulstein.