Evelyn Den Hartog, 91, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015, at The Cottages in Pella where she had been a resident since January 2014. Funeral services were held Sunday, Nov. 1, at 3 p.m. at Pella First Reformed Church. Interment was Monday, Nov. 2, at 9:30 a.m. at Evergreen Cemetery, Leighton. The family prefers memorial contributions to the Pella First Reformed Church to be designated for mission purposes.
Evelyn Ruth Dykstra was born July 21, 1924, in Leighton. She attended the Black Oak No. 6 Country School near Leighton where she met her husband to be, Harold Roy Den Hartog. Evelyn and Harold were united in marriage Aug. 21, 1945, at the home of her parents, Tunis and Martha (Ver Ploeg) Dykstra, near Leighton. They farmed near Oskaloosa for over 20 years where they began raising their four children. In 1966, Harold and Evelyn hesitantly responded to a series of promptings to enter the ministry. In 1968, they ceased from farming and became partners in ministry at Metz Community Church in Newton. To supplement their income, Evelyn worked at the Coast to Coast Store in Newton. They retired from their full-time ministry in 1988 after 22 years of service. Hospitality was a strength of theirs; Harold would invite the people while Evelyn would feed them. She was especially known for the delicious pies she baked. They were privileged to share 65 years of married life together and Harold passed away Jan. 9, 2011. Evelyn enjoyed playing the piano, flower arranging, painting, gardening, and crocheting. She also had an active interest in gathering history and collecting items portraying da Vinci’s "The Last Supper."
Evelyn is survived by her four children: Ronald (Judy) Den Hartog of Sioux Center, Eileen Den Hartog of Sully, Larry (Karen) Den Hartog of Ogema, WI, and Brent (Michelle) Den Hartog of Rochester, MN; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; her sister, Marcene Hanna of University Park; her brother, Rev. Virgil (Marlene) Dykstra of Pella; and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Melvin and Betty Den Hartog of Oskaloosa.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her brother-in-law, Ervin Hanna; her parents-in-law, Henry and Anna (Van Roekel) Den Hartog; and a sister and brother-in-law, Viola (Dykstra) and Elmer Pothoven.
Evelyn was a faithful servant of the Lord at the Central Reformed Church in Oskaloosa, the Metz Community Church in Newton, and the First Reformed Church in Pella. She willingly and generously shared her gifts as long as she could during her 91 years of life.
