Harriet Vander Plaats

Harriet Vander Plaats...

was born to Peter and Fannie (Jagt) DeBoer on September 10, 1932 on a farm near Holland, Minnesota. When she was four years old, she moved to a farm near Ogilvie, Minnesota where she was raised and received her education. At the age of 19, she moved to Pipestone, Minnesota to help babysit her aunt's children. In 1952, she began working as a waitress at the Speedway Cafe in Pipestone. On March 26, 1954, she was united in marriage to Andrew Vander Plaats at the Christian Reformed Church in Ogilvie. Following their marriage, they lived on a farm near Andy's parents. They then moved to a farm northwest of Pipestone. When her children were all in school, Harriet started working as the Activity Coordinator at the Good Samaritan Village in Pipestone. In 1974, Andy suffered a heart attack that caused him to retire from farming so Harriet quit working to care for him. In 1986, they moved from the farm into Pipestone. Andy preceded her in death on August 22, 1997. Harriet became employed in the kitchen for the Pipestone School District. Then, in 2003, she began working in the Dietary Department at the Pipestone County Medical Center. Following her retirement in 2010, Harriet continued to live in Pipestone. On May 23, 2016, Harriet died peacefully surrounded by her family at the Pipestone County Hospice House in Pipestone at the age of 83 years, 8 months and 14 days.

Harriet was a member of the Christian Reformed Church in Pipestone. She was baptized at the church in Ogilvie and she made her Profession of Faith at the church in Pipestone. She was also a member of the church circle. She enjoyed working on word find puzzles and listening to music. She also enjoyed decorating, doing yard work, and spending time with her flower garden. Most importantly, Harriet cherished the time she spent with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is lovingly remembered by her five children, Vicky and her husband Arlen Anderson of Gaylord, Minnesota, Mike and his wife Lynn Vander Plaats of Ward, South Dakota, Barb and her husband Rich Rensberger of Sioux Center, Iowa, Lori and her husband Glenn Anderson of Pipestone, Minnesota, and Dan and his wife Jenny Vander Plaats of Pipestone; 21 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Martin and his wife Andrea DeBoer of Mora, Minnesota and Ron and his wife Erlene DeBoer of Mora; and one sister, Annette and her husband Larry Toering of Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Andy; three children, Sue Brands, Joe Vander Plaats, and an infant son, Jeffrey; her parents; three brothers, Arend, Paul, and Phillip; and four sisters, Marie and Dorothy, an infant sister, Dorothy and an infant sister, Annette.