Alice Van Raalte

Larchwood, IA Alice Van Raalte,age 96 of Larchwood, IA died Thursday, March 13, 2014, surrounded by family, at her son's home in Sioux Falls, SD. Memorial service will be 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 21st at First Evangelical Free Church, 2601 W. 69th Street, Sioux Falls, SD. Burial will be prior to the service at Hillside Cemetery at Lester, IA. Visitation will be Thursday, March 20th from 2:00 to 8:30 p.m., with family present from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Jurrens Funeral Home in Larchwood. Alice Van Raalte went Home to be with the Lord on March 13, 2014. She was born at home on a farm southeast of Larchwood, October 6, 1917. She graduated from the country school one mile from her home, helped on the farm and worked as a hired girl for neighbors until her marriage to William (Bill), on Sept.12, 1941. She moved to the Van Raalte family farm two miles east of Larchwood and lived there until their son got married and began to farm with his Dad. Bill and Alice moved to town but Alices heart remained on the farm and she stayed interested in the crops and livestock all of her life. The daily diaries that she kept from the time that she and Bill started farming to the day she could no longer write, are an important source of information about family happenings, purchases and sales of livestock and as to when crops were planted or harvested on any given year. Her whole family, including her son who farmed the family farm and her grandchildren who still live and farm there, are indebted to her faithful record keeping. They often check the dairies for planting and harvesting times of years past. Even after Alice moved to town, she continued to help preserve the abundance of the family garden on the farm by canning and freezing. She developed a love for sewing while still living in her parental home and sewed many of the dresses that she and her sisters wore. She sewed most of her husband's and son's shirts and her daughter's dresses and other clothes. Alice enjoyed sewing into her mid 90s and loved doing sewing and mending for her grandchildren. She also loved doing handwork and made many, many quilts that each of her descendants still enjoy! She always practiced hospitality and often delighted friends and family with her delicious "downhome" cooking. Whether you were a visiting missionary, member of a threshing crew or a carpenter building something on the farm, you never left Alice's home without a meal or at least coffee and cake. One was blessed to be a guest at her table or in her welcoming home. Alice was truly a Proverbs 31 woman who looked well to the ways of her household. Another hobby Alice had was reading and she read volumes of books. For many years, she was a volunteer at the Larchwood Library and so enjoyed her time there. She cut out thousands of pieces of craft items for the children's reading groups and enjoyed helping out in that way, into her 90's. On February 3 of this year, she moved to Stoney Brook Assisted Living in Sioux Falls but only enjoyed her apartment there for two weeks. She was hospitalized and then moved in a Hospice bed to her son's home where she was cared for by her family, who loved her much. She passed away there in peace with God and man! Alice loved the Lord and that relationship sustained her through many a trial. Attendance at church and the study of the Word at home was a priority to her. Her family benefited from her sweet spirit throughout her entire lifetime. They treasure her example of dignity and grace in the face of whatever hardships or trials faced her. Alice is survived by two children and eight grandchildren. Son, Allen (Mary) Van Raalte of Sioux Falls, SD, whose children are Joan (Lance) Rensch of Sioux Falls, Anne (John) Mulholland of Naperville, IL, Brenda (Jeff) Zylstra of Larchwood, IA, and Donald (Bethany) Van Raalte of Sioux Falls, SD; and Daughter, Sharon (Patrick) Garrison of Billings, MT, whose children are Kristin (Jason) Campbell of West Dundee, IL, Kimberly (Alan) Kirks of Disputana, VA, Matthew (LaNej) Garrison of Billings, MT, and Mitchell (Sarah) Garrison of West St. Paul, MN. Alice is also survived by 30 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grand child, many nieces and nephews, and three siblings, Priscilla Kracht of Luverne, MN, Bert (Frieda) Veldkamp of Bellflower, CA and Donald (Joan) Veldkamp of Windsor, CO. Survivors also include three brother-in-laws, Everett Fikse of Ripon, CA, Pete Kracht of Rock Rapids, IA and Lawrence Foos of Nisland, SD, and one sister-in-law, Ruby Veldkamp of Canton, SD. Alice was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, William, parents, Bert and Sadie Veldkamp, and siblings, Grace Van Unen, Fannie Van Dyke, Pete Veldkamp, Ann Kracht, Sadie Foos, and Gertrude Terpstra. Also preceding her in death were brother-in-laws, Henry Van Unen, Gerrit Van Dyke, Bert Kracht, and Richard Terpstra. In-laws by marriage, preceding her were Ed De Weerd, Tony (Johanna) De Weerd, Martha (Hank) Vander Ploeg, Albertha (Bill) Brown, Marinus, Grace (Sy) Vander Veen and Anna Marie Fikse.