John J. Sterk [Parents] ¹ was born ² on 2 Feb 1927 in Harrison, Douglas County, South Dakota, USA. He died on 7 Nov 2005 in Lynden, Whatcom County, Washington, USA. He was buried ³ in Monumenta Cemetery, Lynden, Whatcom County, WA, USA. John married ⁴ Nellie Korevaar on 12 Feb 1953 in Corsica, Douglas County, South Dakota, USA.

John Sterk, age 78, of Lynden went to be with his Lord on November 7, 2005 with his family at his bedside at The Lynden Manor after a courageous battle with cancer.

He was born Feb. 2, 1927 to John and Minnie (Plooster) Sterk in Harrison, SD. John served in the US Army during the Korean Conflict and in 1954, he married Nellie Korevaar, his beloved wife of 51 years. Together they began farming and in 1959 the family moved from Harrison, SD to Lynden, WA. John was employed at Mt. Baker Plywood for 29 years, retiring in 1989.

He delighted in his family and the camaraderie shared with friends at local coffee shops. He loved playing cards, going for walks, playing games, doing seek-a-word puzzles and watching the Mariners. His quick wit and sense of humor will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Pete, Willis, Alvin, Henry and Ernest and sister, Jenny Beckman.

Visitation hours will be Thursday, Nov. 10, 2005, 1 to 8 PM at Gillies Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held Fri. Nov. 11, 12:15 PM at Monumenta Cemetery with a Memorial service following at 1:00 PM at Faith Reformed Church in Lynden.

Memorial donations may be made to Whatcom Hospice Foundation, 800 E. Chestnut, Suite #1-C, Bellingham, WA 98225 or Faith Reformed Church Memorial Fund, 7th & Liberty St., Lynden, WA 98264.

-Obituary from Gillies Funeral Home

Nellie Korevaar ^{1, 2} was born on 14 Mar 1933 in Corsica, Douglas County, South Dakota, USA. She died on 16 Feb 2017. She was buried ³ in Monumenta Cemetery, Lynden, Whatcom County, WA, USA. Nellie married ³ John J. Sterk on 12 Feb 1953 in Corsica, Douglas County, South Dakota, USA.

Peter John Sterk [Parents] ¹ was born ² on 21 Sep 1918 in Douglas County, South Dakota, USA. He died on 22 May 1989 in Platte, Charles Mix County, South Dakota, USA. He was buried ³ in Platte City Cemetery, Platte, Charles Mix County, South Dakota, USA. Peter married Ellie Marie Muilenburg.

Ellie Marie Muilenburg was born on 24 Aug 1916 in Douglas County, South Dakota, USA. She died on 18 Apr 2008 in Platte, Charles Mix County, South Dakota, USA. She was buried ¹ in Platte City Cemetery, Platte, Charles Mix County, South Dakota, USA. Ellie married Peter John Sterk ².

Ervin R. Beckman [Parents] was born on 2 Mar 1946 in Mitchell, Davison County, South Dakota, USA. He died on 6 May 2020 in Chamberlain, Brule County, South Dakota, USA. He was buried ¹ in Riverview Cemetery, Chamberlain, Brule County, South Dakota, USA. Ervin married ¹ Eugenia Hanig on 19 Oct 1973.

Ervin R Beckman was born March 2, 1946 in Mitchell, SD to Clyde and Jennie (Sterk) Beckman, where he joined older sister Gladys and became big brother to Evelyn, Melba, and Gary. He grew up in Platte and graduated from Platte High School in 1965. He joined the U.S. Army and served in Germany from 1966 to 1968. After being discharged, he returned to Platte, SD and worked for various farmers in and around the Platte area.

He moved to Chamberlain and started his welding career, first for working for Harry's Welding and continued his on-the-job learning with Dick Williamson's welding.

Erv married Eugenia "Jean" Hanig from Reliance, SD on October 19, 1973, resulting in two daughters. In February of 1982, he started Beckman's Welding and Repair.

He took pride in his yard. He enjoyed welding, racing cars, gardening, and cruising. He is a member of The Lakers Car Club and The National Welders association.

He was a team player in his daughters' and grandchildren's lives.

Erv passed away May 6th 2020 at home doing what he enjoyed, mowing his yard.

On his final cruise he was greeted by his parents, his in laws' John and Orvilla Hanig and his brother in law Mark Hanig.

Robert Dale Sterk [Parents] was born on 1 Jul 1957 in Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington, USA. He died on 8 Mar 2019 in Lynden, Whatcom County, Washington, USA. He was buried ¹ in Ten Mile Cemetery, Lynden, Whatcom County, Washington, USA. Robert married Diane Anita Frazier.

Diane Anita Frazier was born on 21 Sep 1954 in Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington, USA. She died on 22 Sep 2020 in Whatcom County, Washington, USA. She was buried ¹ in Ten Mile Cemetery, Lynden, Whatcom County, Washington, USA. Diane married Robert Dale Sterk.

Rean VanderHeiden ¹ died ¹ in 2000. Rean married Henrietta Sterk.

Henrietta Sterk [Parents] was born ¹ on 29 Mar 1925 in Harrison, Douglas County, South Dakota, USA. She died on 4 Oct 2019 in Lynden, Whatcom County, Washington, USA. She was buried ² in Monumenta Cemetery, Lynden, Whatcom County, WA, USA. Henrietta married Rean VanderHeiden.

Other marriages:

Chitwood, Daniel

Obituary
October 9, 2019 | Lynden Tribune (WA)
Section: Obituaries

Henrietta (Sterk VanderHeiden) Chitwood, age 94, of Lynden, passed away on Friday, October 4, 2019. She was born in Harrison, South Dakota to parents John and Minnie (Plooster) Sterk.

Henrietta enjoyed sewing and other arts and crafts, playing cards and games, visiting with friends and family, traveling, and cooking for family dinners. Henrietta was a sales clerk for JC Penny's from 1961 until retirement in 1987.

She married Rean VanderHeiden on June 9, 1942 in Butte, Nebraska. They moved to Washington from South Dakota in 1943. Together they had four children. After Rean's passing in 2000, she later met and married Daniel Chitwood on September 10, 2004 in Lynden.

Henrietta is preceded in death by husbands Rean VanderHeiden in 2000 and Daniel Chitwood in 2013, son Clarence VanderHeiden in 2019, and siblings Peter, Jennie, Bob, Henry, John, Willis, Alvin, and Ernest.

The family wishes to thank the staff of the Christian Health Care Center for their kindness, care and compassion.

You are invited to join family and friends for visitation on Friday, October 11, 2019 at 9 a.m. at Gillies Funeral Home. Graveside will follow at 10 am at Monumenta Cemetery followed by an 11 a.m. memorial service at North County Christ the King Community Church.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

Daniel Chitwood ¹ died ¹ in 2013. Daniel married Henrietta Sterk.

Henrietta Sterk [Parents] was born ¹ on 29 Mar 1925 in Harrison, Douglas County, South Dakota, USA. She died on 4 Oct 2019 in Lynden, Whatcom County, Washington, USA. She was buried ² in Monumenta Cemetery, Lynden, Whatcom County, WA, USA. Henrietta married Daniel Chitwood ².

Other marriages:

VanderHeiden, Rean

Obituary
October 9, 2019 | Lynden Tribune (WA)
Section: Obituaries

Henrietta (Sterk VanderHeiden) Chitwood, age 94, of Lynden, passed away on Friday, October 4, 2019. She was born in Harrison, South Dakota to parents John and Minnie (Plooster) Sterk.

Henrietta enjoyed sewing and other arts and crafts, playing cards and games, visiting with friends and family, traveling, and cooking for family dinners. Henrietta was a sales clerk for JC Penny's from 1961 until retirement in 1987.

She married Rean VanderHeiden on June 9, 1942 in Butte, Nebraska. They moved to Washington from South Dakota in 1943. Together they had four children. After Rean's passing in 2000, she later met and married Daniel Chitwood on September 10, 2004 in Lynden.

Henrietta is preceded in death by husbands Rean VanderHeiden in 2000 and Daniel Chitwood in 2013, son Clarence VanderHeiden in 2019, and siblings Peter, Jennie, Bob, Henry, John, Willis, Alvin, and Ernest.

The family wishes to thank the staff of the Christian Health Care Center for their kindness, care and compassion.

You are invited to join family and friends for visitation on Friday, October 11, 2019 at 9 a.m. at Gillies Funeral Home. Graveside will follow at 10 am at Monumenta Cemetery followed by an 11 a.m. memorial service at North County Christ the King Community Church.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

Clarence Dale Vander Heiden [Parents] was born on 11 Jan 1943 in Geddes, Charles Mix County, South Dakota, USA. He died on 27 Sep 2019 in Seattle, King County, Washington, USA. He was buried ¹ in Monumenta Cemetery, Lynden, Whatcom County, WA, USA. Clarence married Nancy Galloway on 3 May 1963. The marriage ended in divorce.

Obituary
October 9, 2019 | Lynden Tribune (WA)
Section: Obituaries

Clarence Dale VanderHeiden, age 76, passed away at home on Friday, September 27, 2019 in Seattle. Clarence was born in Geddes, South Dakota on January 11, 1943 to Rean and Henrietta VanderHeiden.

Clarence married Nancy Galloway on May 3, 1963 and they were later divorced in 1986.

Clarence owned two gas/service stations in the Seattle area. Though he lived most of his adult life in Seattle, he always enjoyed coming back to Whatcom County to visit old friends and family.

A combined Graveside service with his mother Henrietta Chitwood will be Friday, October 11, 2019 at 10 am at Monumenta Cemetery followed by an 11 a.m. Memorial service at North County Christ the King Community Church.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services.