Henrietta "Etta" Dejongh

Hills, MN        Etta DeJongh, age 87 of Hills, MN died Saturday, April 9, 2016 at the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills, MN.        Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, April 15th at Steen Reformed Church in Steen, MN. Burial will follow at Eastside Cemetery near Steen.        Visitation will be Thursday, April 14th with family present from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Steen Reformed Church.      In lieu of flowers memorial may be directed to the De Jongh family for later designation.      Henrietta “Etta” DeJongh was born September 18, 1928 on the family farm in Lyon County, Iowa, south of Steen, Minnesota. She was the daughter of Henry and Wilhemina (Mouw) Fikse. Etta attended country school through 8th grade and helped with the family farm.        On February 18, 1947 Etta was united in marriage to Harvey DeJongh at her parent’s home, north of Steen. Together they farmed for over forty years in Rock County, Minnesota, living southeast of Luverne and north of Beaver Creek. Etta and Harvey moved to a home in Hills, MN in 1992. Together, they enjoyed listening to Southern Gospel music and experienced many trips together across the U.S. and overseas. They celebrated 61 years of marriage prior to his passing in 2008.        Etta loved to visit and interact with people. Beginning in the late 1980’s, she was employed part-time at the Mary Jane Brown Nursing Home in Luverne. Her 16-year tenure in the Activities Department produced deep friendships, lots of laughter and many good memories.   She retired at age 79.        Etta was a lifelong member of the Reformed Church of Steen. She devoted her life to church activities, serving as a leader for the Girl’s League, Youth Group and Reformed Church Women (RCW). Etta was passionate about The Bible League, where she served as a “Key Lady” for 25 years and coordinated volunteers to serve at their Bible For Missions Thrift Center in Worthington. Etta also volunteered at Center of Hope, served as a 4-H Leader for many years, and was a charter member of the Clintonaires Extension Club.        Etta entered the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills in August 2012 and remained there until her death, this past Saturday, April 9, 2016. Her family will remember Etta as devoted mother, grandmother and friend to many.        Etta is survived by four children, Ethanie (Ed) Schmidt of Tracy, MN, Nancy (Rich) Van Heerde of Sioux Falls, SD, Ronald (Vicki) DeJongh of Chanhassen, MN, and Patty (Dave) Morris of Fridley, MN; ten grandchildren, Michael (Jacqueline) Schmidt of Gaylord, MN, Kelly (Sarah) Schmidt of New Ulm, MN, Steve (Christy) Van Heerde of Estelline, SD, Beth Van Heerde of Sioux Falls, SD, Kasey Jo (Durel) Carstensen of Lake Crystal, MN, Brian Van Heerde of Plymouth, MN, Autumn Blatz, Sydney DeJongh, Bowe Blatz, and Rayna DeJongh of all of Chanhassen, MN; eight great-grandchildren, Aubree, Kate and Britta Schmidt, Conley and Devon Carstensen, Riley, Leah and Bailey Van Heerde; four sisters-in-law: Bertha Fikse of Woodstock, MN, Christina (Toots) Van Iperen of Luverne, MN, Gert DeJongh of Edgerton, MN and Betty DeJongh of Rock Rapids, IA; one brother-in-law, Norman DeJongh of Luverne, MN; and many other extended family.        She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Wilhemina Fikse; her husband, Harvey; three infant children, Conley Gene, Mary Lynn and Connie Mae; Granddaughter Miranda Jo Morris, and three siblings, Dick Fikse, Dena Umland and Andy Fikse.