A funeral service for Ted Bootsma was held Saturday, May 8, 2021, at the Christian Reformed Church in Sanborn. Pastor Phillip Westra officiated.

Pallbearers were Shawn Bootsma, Cory Tiedeman, Jeremy Rensink, Seth Ver Mulm, Cody Rensink, Kirk Tiedeman, Kyle Bootsma, Brent Ver Mulm, Chris Bootsma and William Ver Mulm. Interment was in Roseland Cemetery at Sanborn. Sanborn Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.

Ted Bootsma, son of Charles and Jessie (Boer) Bootsma, was born on Sept. 14, 1930 at Sanborn. He grew up on a farm by Sanborn along with his brothers and sisters. Ted received his education at Sanborn Christian School, and graduated from Hull Western Christian High School with the Class of 1947.

On Jan. 12, 1951, Ted was united in marriage to Nellie Joan Dykstra at the Christian Reformed Church in Sheldon. They began their life together on a farm near Sanborn and became parents to six children: Audrey, Roger, Sheryl, Kathy, Carol and Terry. Normally, day-to-day farm work consumed most of Ted’s time, but when he could get away the family liked to use it making some lasting memories on camping trips together. His children and grandchildren were always a constant source of enjoyment for him; times spent together were treasured. Ted also liked “tinkering around” in his shop on the farm, doing repairs or creating small woodworking projects for family and friends. If it was too cold to be outside, he could entertain himself with Sudoku or mastering a jigsaw puzzle.

Ted was a member of the Christian Reformed Church in Sanborn where he had served as a deacon and elder. He and Nellie volunteered to go with others on church mission trips to Mississippi and help with work projects in Mexico.

On Wednesday, May 5, 2021, Ted joined loved ones who had gone before him, at the age of 90.

Those left to cherish his memory are his children: Audrey (Doug) Tiedeman, of DeSoto, Kan.; Roger (Gracia) Bootsma, of Inwood; Sheryl (Rodney) Rensink, of Boyden; Kathy (Steven) Ver Mulm, of LeMars; and Terry (Lori) Bootsma, of Sanborn; 18 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; his sister, Thelma Tien, of Sheldon; sisters-in-law: Wilma Bootsma, of Sheldon; Carol Dykstra, of Carlsbad, Calif.; and Shirley (Gene) Fokken, of Eaton, Colo.; and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Nellie Bootsma, in 2014; an infant daughter, Carol; his parents, Charles and Jessie Bootsma; brothers: Harry, Peter, Percy, Ralph, Garrold and Calvin Bootsma; one sister, Priscilla Wagenaar; sisters-in-law: Johanna Bootsma, Helen (Bootsma) Vander Stoep, Myrtle Bootsma and Evelyn Bootsma; and brothers-in-law: Bill Wagenaar, Theron Tien and Sid Dykstra.