Betty A. (Lanser) Nikkel, 93, of Pella and formerly of Sully, passed away Friday morning, Aug. 25, 2017, at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House. Funeral services were held Monday, Aug. 28, at 10:30 a.m. at Sully Christian Reformed Church. Interment was in Sully Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested for the Sully Christian School or Cary Christian Center in Cary, MS..
Elizabeth Alice (Betty) Lanser was the eighth of 13 children born to John and Elizabeth (Bruxvoort) Lanser. She was born Sept. 6, 1923, in Newton. Betty received a grade school education at Sully Christian School. When Betty was 13 years of age, her mother passed away. She then, along with her sister Joann, assumed the household responsibilities and helped raise their four younger siblings.
Betty was baptized and made profession of faith at Sully Christian Reformed Church, where she remained a lifelong member. It was there at Sunday evening youth group she met Dewey James Nikkel. Nov. 29, 1945, she and Dewey were united in marriage at the home of her father, John Lanser, near Sully. To this union six children were born. Betty and Dewey raised their family on farms in the Sully area. In 1986, Dewey was diagnosed with cancer, and together they moved into Sully. Dewey passed away Aug. 17, 1987, at the age of 62 years.
Betty was a devoted wife, loving mother, and grandmother who spent many hours in her kitchen baking and canning, including countless apple pies. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, putting together quilts, and playing games, especially Scrabble, Dominoes, and Tic. Betty continued to live in Sully and in 2014, moved to Vriendschap Village in Pella.
She will long be remembered for her patience and gentle servant heart.
Betty’s family includes three sons and two daughters, Carroll (Jennifer) Nikkel of Maxwell, Robert (Rosemary) Nikkel of Sully, Linda (Daryl) Menninga of Sully, Douglas Nikkel of Lynnville, Diana Mick of Kellogg; a daughter-in-law, Valerie Nikkel of Sully; 24 grandchildren; 49 great-grand-children, four great-great-grand- children; two brothers: John (Lois) Lanser of Pella and Marvin (Ruth) Lanser of Holland, MI, of an original family of 12 siblings; her sister-in-law, Junella Lanser of Denver, CO; her brother-in-law, Dan (Alb) Van Wyk of Pella; along with the following sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Kathleen Fopma, Bill (Lillian) Nikkel, Joyce Nikkel, Jean (Verlan) Engle, all of Pella.
Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Dewey; her son, Michael Nikkel on Oct. 12, 2016, at the age of 54; two daughters-in-law, Norma Nikkel and Jean Nikkel; her parents; the following brothers and sisters and their spouses: Mattie and Henry Jansen, Brant and Jo Lanser, Arie and Jo Lanser, Durky and Gerrit Van Kooten, Nellie and Cornie Van Maaren, Henry and Clara Lanser, Johanna and Ludolph Zylstra, Pete Lanser, Harriet Van Wyk; her parents-in-law, Henry and Bertha (Sjaardema) Nikkel; a step-father-in-law, Dick Hugen; and the following brothers-in-law and sister-in-law: Charles Fopma, Joyce and Gilbert Bandstra, and Bob Nikkel.
Betty faithfully read the Bible and prayed diligently for her family.
