Laura Slings, 92, of Pella, passed away peacefully in her apartment at The Cottages surrounded by her four children on Feb. 18, 2017. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25, at Second Christian Reformed Church in Pella, for which memorials have been designated.
Laura Mae Slings was born Feb. 6, 1925. She was the ninth child born to Dirk and Jennie (Bruxvoort) Vos. At the time Laura was born, the family was living on a farm west of Sully.
Laura attended Sully Christian School until the age of 11 and in 1936, moved with her family to a farm northwest of Pella. Laura finished her education at Battle Ridge Country School near their home. After graduation, Laura helped her mother with the many duties of a large family on a busy farm.
Laura was a member of Second Christian Reformed Church of Pella and participated in the young peoples’ group, the Loyal Workers young ladies society, and the Golden Hour Society.
Laura met her husband, Andy (Andrew) Slings of Prairie City through mutual friends of the young peoples’ church gatherings in Pella. They were married on Oct. 18, 1945, at her parents’ home. Andy then joined Second Christian Reformed Church. To this marriage, five children were born: Carol, Philip, Calvin Andrew (stillborn), Ruth, and Lois.
Andy and Laura farmed west of Pella for 25 years, raising their young family. In 1972, the family moved from the farm into Pella. In 1974, Laura began working as a waitress at Fair Haven East and worked there for 30 years providing meals and comforting smiles to the residents. She retired at the age of 79.
Faith and family came first in Laura’s life as she was a very devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She received great happiness in loving and caring for her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and parents. Laura loved baking cookies and loved to have her family and friends join them for meals and coffee time.
Among those who will treasure her memory are four children: Carol Ver Woert of Pella, Phil (Vicky) Slings of Pella, Ruth Wooten of Frisco, TX, and Lois Slings of Pella; four grandchildren: Rick (Monica) Ver Woert of McKinney, TX, Joshua (Alisha) Slings of Pella, Adam Slings of Pella, and Sarah (Jamis) Christensen of Sully; seven great- grandchildren: Blake Ver Woert and Amelia Ver Woert of McKinney, TX; Brooke Slings, Kortney Slings, and Kayla Slings of Pella, and Austyn Christensen and Ellet Christensen of Sully; two brothers: Paul (Marilyn) Vos and Harold (Carolyn) Vos, both of Pella; and sisters-in-law, Wilma (Richard) Vos of Grand Junction, CO, Annette (Marion) Vos of Grandville, MI, and Martha (Harold) Slings of Pella; many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Preceding Laura in death were her husband of 43 years, Andrew on Apr. 21, 1989; one son, Calvin Andrew (stillborn) on Sept. 13, 1952; her cherished sons-in-law, Joseph Ver Woert and Jimmy Wooten; her parents; four sisters, Clazena (Henry) Roelofsen, Dirkie (William) Bandstra, Adrianna (Jake) Jansen, and Helen Vos; five brothers: Bernie (Johanna) Vos, William (Marjorie) Vos, Richard Vos, Marion Vos, and John (Alma) Vos; and sister-in-law, Marjorie M. Vos.
