Simon Terpstra

Sibley, IA Simon Terpstra, age 89 of Sibley, IA died Thursday, February 18, 2010 at Country View Manor Nursing Home in Sibley, IA. Memorial service will be 1:00 PM Monday, February 22, 2010 at Jurrens Funeral Home in Sibley, with Dean Dykstra and Mona Reece officiating. Burial will be private with family prior to the service at the Holman Township Cemetery in Sibley. Visitation will be Sunday, Feb. 21st from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM with family present from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley. Simon Terpstra was born on November 10, 1920, the son of Ray and Elizabeth (Dykstra) Terpstra on a farm near Melvin, Iowa. He grew up in the Melvin area and was one of nine children. On December 19, 1941, he was united in marriage to Frances Van Geest in Rock Port, MO. The couple moved to the Ashton and Sibley area and farmed there for many years. Simon was very passionate about farming but he also enjoyed reading, fixing things and taking his children and grandchildren fishing over the years. He and his wife Frances loved to travel and wintered in Texas for many years. Simon is survived by his wife of sixty-eight years, Frances Terpstra of Sibley, IA; two children, Sharon (husband, Lew) Bergh of Worthington, MN and Jim (wife, Patty) Terpstra of Sibley, IA; son-in-law, Duane (wife, Verla) Bergh of Havana, ND; grandchildren, Paula (husband, Dan) Timmersman of Roseau, MN, Thane (wife, Janelle) Bergh of East Grand Forks, MN, Jeremy (wife, Sara) Bergh of Cedar Rapids, IA, Pamela (husband, Mark) Overby of Nixa, MO, Carmen (husband, Patrick) Mazza of Woodbury, MN, Dallas Bergh of Chandler, AZ, Erin Terpstra of Rockwall, TX, Josh Terpstra of Sibley, IA and Monica Bergh of Havana, ND; thirteen great-grandchildren; one brother, Marvin (wife, Jackie) Terpstra of Worthington, MN; one sister, Esther (husband, Duane) Ernst of Sibley, IA; and many nieces, nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Shirley Bergh; grandson, Todd Bergh; and seven siblings, Minnie Wegter, Martha Gerhart, Irene Towe, Dewey, Richard, Earl Terpstra and Merle Terpstra in infancy.