Mavis Berkhof

MAVIS LORETTA BERKHOF was born on December 10, 1935 to George and Gladys (Rollag) Sanderson at her parent’s home in Steen, Minnesota. She was baptized on March 30, 1936. She attended primary school in Steen and then attended Hills High School in Hills, Minnesota; graduating with the class of 1953. On January 6, 1955, Mavis was united in marriage to Bastian Berkhof at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Steen. The couple then began their life on the farm together. Their first daughter, Valerie Renae, died on February 3, 1959. The couple was then blessed with six more children. Mavis loved being a full time mother and homemaker. She was a wonderful farm wife and enjoyed opening her home and being a hostess to anyone. Mavis most enjoyed the ability to be at home for her children.

Bastian preceded Mavis in death on June 14, 2009. She continued to reside at the home on the farm. On Saturday, March 18, 2017, with her family gathered by her side, Mavis died peacefully at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage at the age of 81 years, three months and eight days.

Mavis was a member of the Steen Reformed Church in Steen. She loved cooking and sitting down for family meals. Mavis was a talented seamstress. When her children were younger, she enjoyed sewing clothes for them. In her later years, much to the delight of her granddaughters, she would spend hours making doll clothes. She also enjoyed crossword puzzles and cross stitching. Quite simply her greatest accomplishment in life was being a mother and having a very special relationship with each of her children.

Mavis is lovingly remembered by her children, Susan (Jim) Clark of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Lori (David) Deragisch of Luverne, Melanie (Merle) Boeve of Clive, Iowa, Bradley (Carey) Berkhof of Sioux Falls, Jeffrey (Jill) Berkhof of Hudson, Wisconsin, and Gregory Berkhof of Minneapolis, Minnesota; 15 grandchildren, Travis (Lindsey) Clark, Jesse Clark, Brent Clark, Danielle (Nathan) Wright, Brandon (Lyndsie) Deragisch, Kaitlyn (Michael) Strassburg, Hilary Deragisch, Jameson Boeve, Kylie Boeve, Jayden Berkhof, Hannah Berkhof, Jordan Hulstein, Cody Hulstein, Halle Hoekstra, and Benjamin Berkhof; six great-grandchildren, Mason Clark, Sofia Clark, Owen Wright, Mattea Wright, Connor Wright, and Liam Strassburg; a sister, Noreen Berkhof of Lakewood, California; and a sister-in-law, Judy Berkhof of Mitchell, South Dakota; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bastian; daughter, Valerie Berkhof; her parents; and a sister, Gwendolyn Harsh.