Hattie Brands

HATTIE (SPYKERBOER) BRANDS was born on January 7, 1927 to William and Lena (Kracht) Spykerboer on a farm near Rock Rapids, Iowa. She received her education at the country school in Lyon County, Iowa. In 1941, she moved with her family to a farm northwest of Ellsworth, Minnesota. She worked at home until her marriage to James Brands on August 31, 1948 in Pipestone, Minnesota. Following their marriage, the couple lived near Luverne, Minnesota while Jim worked for a dairy farm. In 1951, they moved to a farm near Kenneth, Minnesota until 1966. The couple then moved to a farm near Pipestone and then in 1978 the couple moved to an acreage near Trosky, Minnesota. In 1989, they moved into Pipestone. On November 10, 2003, James preceded Hattie in death. In May 2007, Hattie became a resident of the Falls Landing Assisted Living. Due to her increase in need of assistance, Hattie moved to the Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton, Minnesota in August of 2016. She remained at the Edgebrook Care Center until her death on Monday, April 20, 2020 at the age of 93 years, three months, and 13 days.

Hattie was a member of the Pipestone Christian Reformed Church and was an active member of the Dorcas Ladies Aid. She also taught Sunday school and catechism classes. She loved to work in the garden, crochet and Bible Trivia. She always looked forward to the visits from her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

She is lovingly remembered by her three children, Florence (Harris) Van Ruler of Chandler, Minnesota, Wilvina (Willard) Kas of Pipestone, and Larry (Luann) Brands of Holland, Minnesota; a daughter-in-law, Edna (Merlyn) Buys of Luverne; 11 granddaughters and their spouses; 20 great-grandchildren; one sister, Mary (John) Brands of Edgerton; one sister-in-law, Priscilla Spykerboer of Rock Rapids; one brother-in-law, Robert Dykema of Ellsworth; and many other loving friends and family members. She was preceded in death by her husband, James; her son, Edward; a grandson, Dean Van Ruler; a granddaughter, Brenda Van Ruler; her parents; brothers, Bert, Henry, and Chris Spykerboer; and sisters, Jennie Spykerboer, Jennie Dykema, and Albertha Tiedemann.