Frances Leona Deberg Harms

George, IA

     Frances Leona DeBerg Harms, age 96, of George, IA, formerly of Boyden, IA died Sunday, June 28, 2020 at the Sanford Hospital in Sheldon, Iowa.

     Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 1st at Tabernacle Baptist Church in George, IA with Pastor Bryan Anderson, officiating. Burial will be in the Sheridan Township Cemetery at Boyden, IA.

     Visitation will be Tuesday, June 30th from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m., with the family present from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Tabernacle Baptist Church in George.

     Frances Leona Mulder was born to George and Jennie (Schneidermann) Mulder at home in George, IA on March 26, 1924. She attended Country School and then 2 years of High School in Little Rock before leaving school to help her parents at home. She was the oldest of 5 children, and helped raise her siblings, Helene, Emma Jane, Kenneth, and Lois.

     Frances worked at Charlie Fritz Grocery Store in Little Rock and Ed Hoecks Grocery in Sibley. After thoroughly examining her other options, she met the love of her life, Alvin DeBerg of Little Rock and they were married on March 7, 1945. During their married life, they farmed in Little Rock and Hardwick, MN before moving to Sibley for employment, and then to Boyden in 1966. Over the span of 16 years, Alvin and Frances were blessed with 9 children. And in her “spare” time, Frances worked outside the home at the Creamery in Sibley, the Hospital in Sheldon, and Demco Manufacturing in Boyden.

     Frances only had 2 piano lessons before realizing she didn’t need them. God had blessed her with a miraculous ability to play beautiful music by ear. She was always grateful for her God-given talent, and was never hesitant to share it with others. She played for many weddings, funerals and other special events throughout her life. She could be found almost every Sunday evening playing the piano with the Ambassador Quartet who, for 42 years, ministered and used their talents to serve the Lord at many different churches and events throughout the region. Frances played organ and piano her entire life, even entertaining guests and other residents at the memory care facility in Sheldon during her last year on this side of Heaven.

     In 1996 Alvin suffered a stroke which left him paralyzed. Frances and her children cared for Alvin in their home for 3-1/2 years before sharing his care with the Nursing Home in George. Remaining lovingly devoted, Frances traveled back and forth from Boyden to the nursing home almost daily to visit him. Alvin passed away in 2003 on his 82^nd birthday.

     Frances trusted Christ alone as her Savior when she was 10 years old. She was a faithful member of Tabernacle Baptist Church in George, IA and always graciously used her gifts and talents for God’s glory. As if their own grandchildren were not enough to love, Frances and Alvin affectionately volunteered as regular nursery workers for many years at Tabernacle.

Frances married John L. Harms of Ankeny, IA at the spry age of 80. They made their home in Boyden and the blessed union enabled Frances to enjoy 2 bonus sons, their wives, and a host of additional grandchildren and great grandchildren. Johnny passed away in 2011, and the blending of the 2 families has made Frances a mother to 11, grandmother to 36, great-grandmother to 92, and great-great-grandmother to 6 (and counting).

     Frances showered everyone she encountered with sincere love and acceptance. Although unrelated by birth, there are many individuals who truly felt like they were a child or grandchild of Frances, and she unselfishly loved them and treated them as such.

     Those left to cherish her memories are her children, Marlys (Stan) Korthals of George; Helen Kaye (Les) Broek of Sioux Falls, SD; Arlyn (Kris) DeBerg of Tucson, AZ; Ardell (Kris) DeBerg of Vergas, MN; Mary Jane (Larry) Klaahsen of Sioux Falls, SD; Colleen (Ardell) Niemeyer of Boyden; Marilyn (Lem) Maurer of Boyden, IA; Caroline (Shaun) Hatfield of Lewiston, ID; Doug (Jeanette) Harms of Pleasant Hill, IA; and Steve (Judy) Harms of Slayton, MN. Included with the children are dozens of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Also her sister, Lois Boone of Sioux City, IA; brother-in-law, Rev. Marvin Kanengieter of Sheldon; sisters-in-law, Ora Fischer of George; Joanne (Louis) Vust of Little Rock, IA; and Don Nita DeBerg of Sibley. And a host of loving nieces, nephews and long-time friends.

     Frances was preceded in death by her husbands, Alvin DeBerg and Johnny Harms; her parents, George & Jennie Mulder; her brother, Ken (and Jeanette) Mulder; her sisters, Emma Jane (and Reverend Charles) Reed, Helene Kanengieter; and her son, Glenn DeBerg.