Geneva “Betty” Van Gelder

Geneva ‘Betty’ Van Gelder, 91 of Le Mars, Iowa, passed away on Monday, Dec. 30, 2019 at Good Samaritan Society of Le Mars.

Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, Jan. 3 at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars with Rev. Dr. Nevada DeLapp officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation with the family present will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2 at Rexwinkel Funeral Home. Expressions of sympathy may be expressed to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed towards breast cancer awareness/research.

Geneva Betty Raak was born on Sep. 11, 1928, to Gerrit and Rosa (Kuiken) Raak in Orange City, Iowa. She was raised near Orange City, attending and graduating high school from the Orange City Community School. After graduation, she worked in the Sioux County courthouse for two years.

Betty was united in marriage to Wilbur Van Gelder on Oct. 14, 1948, and they made their home on a farm near Alton, Iowa. Wilbur farmed and Betty stayed home and raised their three children: Rose, Gary and Bruce. They later moved to rural Merrill, Iowa where Wilbur farmed and also began a trucking business. Betty did all the bookkeeping for Wilbur and once the children were all in school, she began working outside of the home. She worked for a few years at Kohouts in Le Mars before beginning a long career at Jo Nee Manufacturing in Le Mars. Jo Nees eventually went out of business and Betty then worked in the cafeteria at Westmar College for about five years. She also cleaned apartments for a family friend for a short time.

Wilbur retired from farming in 1984 and they then moved into Le Mars. They retired from the trucking business in 2010. In her retirement, Betty enjoyed watching her grandchildren and great grandchildren; her favorite time was spent with them. Betty loved to crochet, making many blankets and items for her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She also loved to play cards and work on puzzles. She was an amazing baker and was known for her cookies, especially chocolate chip cookies and Jon Hagels‚ which are a special Dutch cookie. Betty and Wilbur were long time members of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Preston Township, rural Akron, Iowa. Wilbur passed away on March 26, 2017.

Betty is survived by her children: Rosalie (Merlin) Giesen of Slayton, Minnesota, Gary (Chris) Van Gelder of Creston, Iowa, and Bruce (Betty) Van Gelder of New Sharon, Iowa; five grandchildren: Melissa (Mike) Harms, Shelley (special friend, Brian Huisman) Shook, Kari (Mike) Hudson, Brad (Terri) Van Gelder, and Matt (Jenny) Van Gelder; 13 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild soon-to-be; and many other relatives.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Wilbur; infant granddaughter, Dawn Shook; infant great-granddaughter, Jessica Harms; and sister, Hendrena (James) Van Gelder.