BERNIE ENGELTJES, age 86 years, ten months & twenty seven days, died Friday, December 5, 2014, at the Sanford Luverne Medical Center. He was born January 8, 1928, in Le Mars, IA, to Gerrit and Cornelia (Magre) Engeltjes. As a boy, Bernie lived in various places in northwest Iowa. He graduated from country school.
Bernie married Elbetha "Betty" Marie Aberson on March 8, 1957, at the First Reformed Church in Orange City, IA. After their marriage, the couple farmed near Sheldon, IA. In 1962, they moved to a farm north of Leota. They retired and moved to Leota in 1997. Bernie loved to help on the farm.
He was a member of the Bethel Reformed Church, in Leota, where he had served as an Elder. He enjoyed music; and his family was very special to him.
Bernie is survived by his wife, Betty Engeltjes, Leota; four children, Brenda (Doug) Van Peursem, Leota, and their children, Ron (Jodi) Van Peursem, Ryan (Jamie) Van Peursem and Rachelle (Ivan) Vande Griend; Laura (Gene) Van Peursem, Edgerton, and their son, Marty (Katie) Van Peursem; Mark Engeltjes, Edgerton; and Sandra (Jamie) Rieck, Pipestone, and their children, Tyler Rieck & Darian Rieck; ten great grandchildren, Johnathon, Jayden, Annika & Maggie Van Peursem; Autumn, Hope & Emary Van Peursem; and Shibley, Alyda & Reese Vande Griend; a sister, Marie Fedders, Sioux Center, IA; and a brother, Andy (Betty) Engeltjes, Orange City, IA.
He was preceded in death by his parents; great granddaughter, Summer Van Peursem; three brothers, Lewis, Henry & an infant brother, Bernie Engeltjes; and five sisters, Bertha Franken, Grace Van Roekel, Hattie Vollink, Fannie Van Dieren & Nellie Meyer.
Visitation will be from 2-5 pm Sunday at the Bethel Reformed Church in Leota. Funeral will be 10:30 am Monday at the Bethel Reformed Church in Leota. Burial will be in the Leota Community Cemetery.
The Leota Burial Association & The Dingmann Funeral Home, in Adrian, are in charge of arrangements.

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