Sophie Van Houten

Rock Rapids, Iowa Sophie Van Houten, age 92 of Rock Rapids, IA died Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at the Lyon Manor Nursing & Rehab Center in Rock Rapids, IA. Funeral service will be 10:30 AM, Monday, January 16th at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids, with Pastor Corilee Boer officiating. Burial will follow at the Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapdis. Visitation will be Sunday, January 15th from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids. Sophie Van Houten was born June 16, 1919 in Holland, the daughter of Pete and Dorothy (DeJong) Stap. At an earlier age Sophie and her parents moved to the United States and settled in the tri-state area. She lived near George and Sibley, Iowa. She completed her education through the 8th grade. She remained with her parents until she was united in marriage to Ben Van Houten on January 15, 1940. Together they lived most of their married life near Alvord, Iowa. Sophie was a homemaker and she enjoyed crocheting, knitting, gardening, feeding the birds, playing cards with her sisters-in-law and spending time with her grandchildren and family. On June 15, 1984 Sophies husband Ben, died after of 44 years of marriage. She moved from the farm into Alvord. It was at that time that she received her drivers license and continued to stay active. Her family will remember Sophie as a caring, supportive, understanding, loving person, who always listened more then she spoke. In September of 2005 Sophie entered Lyon Manor and remained there until this past Wednesday, January 11, 2012, where she died at the age of 92. She is survived by two children, Gary (wife, Carol) Van Houten and Delmar (wife, Evelyn) Van Houten, both of Alvord, IA; eight grandchildren, Greg (wife, Paula) Van Houten of Troy, MI, Mark (wife, Lisa) Van Houten of Kansas City, MO, Pam Sukalski of Marshall, MN, Stacey Vogelzang of Alvord, IA, Keith Van Houten of Alvord, IA, Erin (husband, Ryan) Burtis of Sioux Falls, SD, Benjamin (wife, Becky) Van Houten and Sheila Van Houten (boyfriend Mike Buss), both of Alvord, IA; twelve great-grandchildren and two step-great grandsons; one sister-in-law, Phyllis Stap of May City; and other extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Pete and Dorothy Stap; her husband, Ben Van Houten; a son, Allen Van Houten; daughter-in-law, Julie Van Houten; two grandsons, Steven and Kyle Van Houten; and brother, Bill Stap.