A memorial service for Gertrude G. “Gert” Van Engen was held Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, at Grace Fellowship Church in Hartley. Rev. Kenneth C. Eberline, II and Rev. Nathan Van Engen officiated.

Pallbearers were John Van Engen, Nathan Van Engen, Andy Van Engen, Jared Van Engen, Shane Van Engen, Jason Van Engen, Dawn Culver, Laurena Overmire, Angie Selzer, Amy Van Engen, Keri Eberline and Kalyn Rife. Interment was in Baker Township Cemetery at Melvin. Hartley Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.

Gertrude Grace “Gert” (DeRuyter) Van Engen was born to Dick and Lena (Kooistra) DeRuyter on Dec. 8, 1927, at Beaver Creek, Minn. Her family moved to Iowa and then to Hills, Minn. where she met Dick Van Engen. They were married on Dec. 18, 1946.

Dick and Gert farmed at Doon and Melvin until 1984 when they retired and moved to Luverne, Minn. Following Dick’s death on Aug. 23, 1995, Gert continued to live in their home for several years before moving to the Centennial Apartments in Luverne. Wanting to be closer to her family, she became a resident at Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley in 2015. While living there she made many new friends, both residents and staff.

Gert was a faithful wife, mother and grandmother, caring for each one. She loved gardening, having coffee with her neighbors, quilting and refinishing old furniture. She was always baking and cooking, ready to serve her family or anyone who stopped by the house. Having five sons, the Van Engen farm was host to many kids over the years.

Left to cherish her memory are her children: Doug (Brenda) Van Engen, of Branson, Mo.; Cliff (Marlys) Van Engen, of Hartley; Darrel Van Engen, of Primghar; Myron (Connie) Van Engen, of Melvin; and Curt (Donna) Van Engen, of Hartley; 13 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; two sisters: Mina (Ed) Poppens and Carol (Rich) Hill; three sisters-in-law: Shirley DeRuyter, Linda Wissink and Fran DeRuyter; many nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dick; her parents, Dick and Lena DeRuyter; six siblings: John DeRuyter, Mary Gunnick, Rich DeRuyter, Spark DeRuyter, Nellie Schoonhoven and Gerrit DeRuyter; four in-laws: Margaret DeRuyter, Pete Gunnick, Eleanor DeRuyter, and John Schoonhoven; and daughter-in-law, Luisa Hornick.