Wilhelmina “Mina” Sjaarda
May 15, 1928 ~ November 30, 2018
Mina Sjaarda, 90, Valley Springs, died Friday, November 30, 2018, at the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills, MN, surrounded by her family.
Visitation will be 6-8pm, Tuesday, December 4, 2018, at the United Reformed Church in Hills, MN. Memorial Services will be 10:30am, Wednesday, December 5, 2018, also at United Reformed Church.
Memorial gifts may be given to Hills Christian School.
Wilhelmina “Mina” Klein, 90, daughter of John and Ida Klein, was born on May 15, 1928, in Sioux Center, IA. She was raised on a farm, where she milked cows and helped with field work. She attended country school through eighth grade. She married Clarence Sjaarda on September 20, 1946, in Sioux Center, IA. Following their marriage, Mina and Clarence farmed near Sioux Center for a year before moving to a farm near Beaver Creek, MN. In 1963, they moved to a farm near Valley Springs, SD so their oldest daughter, Donna, could attend South Dakota School for the Deaf. They farmed there until retirement.
During the years on the farm, Mina enjoyed raising her five children, milking cows, and helping with the field work. She was always willing to drop everything to help wherever needed.
Mina was a long-time, active member of the Hills Christian Reformed/United Reformed Church. She volunteered many hours at Hills Christian School. Her love for the Lord was evident in her everyday life as she hosted family, friends, and anyone needing a warm meal. She was well-known for her apple pie and chocolate cake. Mina loved a good laugh with her family and always enjoyed them stopping by. She loved sending her grandchildren and great-grandchildren home with a baggie of gummy bears. Some of Mina’s hobbies included sewing, making an afghan for each grandchild, and many other crafts. Mina shared her sense of humor and sweet spirit with the residents and staff of the Tuff Memorial Home, where she spent the last few years of her life.
Those remaining to cherish her memory are her five children, Donna Elaine of Hills, MN; Jo Van Engen and her husband, Bob, of Valley Springs; Wanda Jansma and her husband, Jim, of Carlsbad, CA; John and his wife, Marlys, of Valley Springs, SD; Norm and his wife, Donna, of Hills, MN; thirteen grandchildren, Michael Van Engen, Jered (Jill) Van Engen, Robbi (Jake) Bishop, Michelle (Billy) Mouw, Jim (Michele) Jansma, Teresa (Jeff) Darney, Sheila (Steven) Tatgenhorst, Lori (Jon) Bakker, John (Kaye) Sjaarda, Nick (Shawna) Sjaarda, Jill (Josh) Iverson, Jennifer (Nik) Dinger, Angie Sjaarda; forty-one great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Marvin Sjaarda and his wife, Bertha, of Sanborn, IA.
Preceding her in death was her husband of 50 years, Clarence; parents John and Ida Klein; her husband’s parents; sister, Carrie (Jake) Van Regenmorter; sister-in-law, Winifred (Gerald) Reinders; brothers-in-law John (Joyce) Sjaarda and Donald (Bev) Sjaarda
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