Tillie A. Van Aartsen

Rock Rapids, Iowa Tillie Van Aartsen, age 84 of Rock Rapids, IA died Monday, August 13, 2012 at the Sanford Hospital of Rock Rapids. Funeral service will be 10:30 AM, Thursday August 16th at First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids, with Rev. Dan Haggar and Rev. Katie Van Veldhuizen officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids. Visitation will be Wednesday, August 15th from 2:00 to 8:00 PM, with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids. Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids is in charge of services. Tillie Angeline (Beyenhof) Van Aartsen was born on July 6, 1928 at Steen, Minnesota. She was the daughter of Gerrit and Henrietta (Niessink) Beyenhof. She graduated from Rock Rapids High School in 1946. While in high school she worked at Tonys Grocery and additionally she worked as an assistant to an attorney-at-law. During the war years she worked at the ration office. She married Bernard Van Aartsen on December 12, 1947 at the First Reformed Church of Rock Rapids. Three children were born to this union; Douglas, Sandra, and later Scott. In 1951 Bernie and Tillie moved to Luverne, Minnesota. In 1958 they moved to Hardwick, Minnesota. She was a full time wife and mother during these years. She often helped on the farm, kept a large garden, and did a lot of canning. She was a wonderful cook and baker. She often made special cakes for her children and grandchildrens birthdays. Tillie was a member of the Luverne Assemblies of God Church where she served as a Sunday school teacher. In 1963 Bernie and Tillie bought a farm just south of Rock Rapids. In the late 60s she worked at Home Clothiers as a clerk. During these years she was noted for her hospitality. Immediately after moving to Rock Rapids she hosted the Van Aartsen relatives on Sunday afternoons, once a month. She opened her home to her childrens Sunday evening get-togethers. She was an active member of the First Reformed Church and was a regular participant in the womens activities. Along with her husband Bernie, she traveled extensively in the United States and made several trips to Europe to visit Dutch relatives. For nearly twenty years they spent a couple of winter months in southern California. She is survived by her husband of nearly 65 years and 3 children, Douglas Van Aartsen, and his wife Sharon of Ireton, Iowa; Sandra and her husband Lee Van Veldhuizen of Sioux Center, Iowa; Scott Van Aartsen and his wife Allison of Rock Rapids, Iowa; Nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; 1 brother, Hyman Beyenhof and his wife Arietta of Little Rock, Iowa; 2 brothers-in-law, John Van Aartsen and his wife Ruth of Rock Rapids, and Henry Van Aartsen and his wife Marlys of Orange City; 2 sisters-in-law, Mary Ann Van Aartsen of Luverne, Minnesota and Jane Albers of Rock Rapids. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister-in-law, Hermina Boote and her husband John; brothers-in-law, Gerrit Van Aartsen; Leonard Lens, and Marvin Albers. Any memorials or donations should be directed to Wycliffe Bible Translators in c/o of Amy and Sueng Kim.