Irma Vander Sluis

IRMA LAVONNE (EVINK) VANDER SLUIS was born to Ben and Gertrude (Versteeg) Evink on April 9, 1932 in Worthington, Minnesota. She was baptized in the Rushmore Presbyterian Church. She moved with her family in 1936 to the Holland, Minnesota area where she attended grade school in District #30 and graduated from Ruthton High School in 1949. On October 17, 1950 she was united in marriage to Berton (Bud) Vander Sluis at the Holland Presbyterian Church. Four sons were born to this union, Gary, David, Bradley and Rolland. They farmed near Holland and Tyler, Minnesota until 1973 when they moved into Tyler, where Irma worked as the manager of the Tyler Golf Club, worked for Co-op Oil at Oltman's Motel and also held various waitressing jobs. In 1978 they moved to Alhambra, California where Irma was employed by California Lutheran Homes as a manager for their Thrift Shop and a PBX operator and receptionist. They later moved to Apple Valley, California where she was an apartment manager. In 1986 they returned to Tyler where Irma worked as Caretaker for Danebod Folk School and Family Camps until retiring in 1995. She entered Danebod Village in 2011 and in June of 2013 became a resident at the Neighborhoods at Brookview in Brookings, South Dakota. Irma passed away surrounded by her loving family at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on Wednesday, August 21, 2013 at the age of 81 years, 4 months and 13 days.

Irma was an active member of the Holland Presbyterian Church. She was an active part of choir, mixed quartet, Sunday school, Bible school, Ladies Aid, youth leader and church treasurer. She was a Deacon at Alhambra Presbyterian in California and active in the choir and Ladies Aid of Danebod Lutheran Church in Tyler. She was a lifetime member of her Birthday Club in Holland. She loved her family dearly and is well remembered for her letter writing and her embroidery work which she gave to so many.

Irma is lovingly remembered by her four sons, Gary (Shelley) Vander Sluis, Springfield, MO, David Vander Sluis of Brookings, SD, Bradley (Mary Beth) Vander Sluis of South Haven, MN, Rolland (Katherine) Vander Sluis of Santa Rosa, CA; eleven grandchildren, Lisa Ketterling, Chad Alleckson, Shelly Littlefield, Jason Vander Sluis, Jared Vander Sluis, Jennifer Vander Sluis, Tessie Clasby, Mandy Johnson, Ben Vander Sluis, Isaac Vander Sluis, and Ashley Dressen; seven great-grandchildren, Gavin Jacobson, Ava De Jesus, Cole Vander Sluis, Greyson Johnson, Jasaya Johnson, and Alicia and Jesse Kantz. Irma was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bud, in 2003; and her sister, Darleen Einck, in 2009.

Blessed be her memory.