Bernita Frances Klaassen

Little Rock, IA 

     Bernita Klaassen age 85 of Sibley, Iowa died Friday, June 18, 2021 at Sibley Specialty Care in Sibley.

     Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at Salem Reformed Church in Little Rock, with Reverend Barry Wyveen, officiating. Burial will follow in the Pleasant View Cemetery at Little Rock.

     Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 PM, Monday, June 21st with the family present at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley.

     Bernita Frances Klaassen was born on July 6, 1935, on a farm near Little Rock, IA, the daughter of Fred and Martha (Kruse) Buss.  Bernita was baptized at the First Baptist Church rural George, IA.  She grew up on that farm and attended country school through the 8^th grade and later received her GED.

     On August 12, 1955, Bernita was united in marriage to Burdell Klaassen at the Salem Reformed Church parsonage in Little Rock. They continued to live in the Little Rock area, where they raised their two children, Jeff and Kelli. Bernita worked for Campbell Soup for a time and then after receiving her GED went to work as a CNA at the Country View Manor in Sibley for twenty-five years.

     Bernita was a lifelong member of the Salem Reformed Church and a member of the Little Rock American Legion Auxiliary.

     She enjoyed going to garage sales, shopping for clothes and doing things with her sisters. She will be greatly missed.

     Bernita is survived by her children, Jeff Klaassen of Little Rock, IA and Kelli Klaassen (Kyle Rosse) of Dell Rapids, SD; six grandchildren, Tyler (Sommer) Klaassen, Chelsie (Adam) Wiertzema, Michael (Chelsea) Hodapp, Krista (Andrew) Hoyme, Matthew Hodapp (Jami Van Muyden) and Kory Klaassen; seventeen great grandchildren; two sisters, Lucille Gruis of Rushmore, MN and Kayleen Nolte of Heron Lake, MN; sister-in-law, Margaret Buss of Auburn, Washington; and nieces, nephews and other extended family.

     She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Martha Buss; husband, Burdell Klaassen; brothers, John and Klaas Buss; and daughter-in-law, Kelli Jo Klaassen.