Tena Johanna Kelderman Gorter (1925-2010)

Tena Johanna Kelderman Gorter

Birth

10 May 1925

Colton, Minnehaha County, South Dakota, USA

Death

25 Jun 2010 (aged 85)

Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, South Dakota, USA

Burial

Maplewood Cemetery

Luverne, Rock County, Minnesota, USA Show Map

Plot

4th Division, East Section

Memorial ID

View Source

Tena Johanna Gorter, 85, Brandon, S.D., formerly of Luverne, died Friday, June 25, 2010, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Funeral services were Tuesday, June 29, at the Christian Reformed Church in Luverne. Burial followed at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.

Tena Kelderman was born on May 10, 1925, to Henry and Tena (Drost) Kelderman on a farm near Colton, S.D. She grew up on various farms in the northwest Iowa area. She attended country school near Hull, Iowa, through the eighth grade. After she completed her schooling, she lived with her family and worked for area families.

On Jan. 17, 1947, she married Fred Gorter at her parents' home near Doon, Iowa. Following their marriage they farmed near Ellsworth and later Jasper. In 1963 the family moved to a farm north of Luverne. They continued to farm there until her husband retired in 1988. They then moved to Luverne. In 2004 the couple moved to Bethany Meadows senior living facility in Brandon. Her husband, Fred, died on May 20, 2009. After his death she continued to live at Bethany Meadows.

Mrs. Gorter was a charter member of Christian Reformed Church, Luverne, where she was active in various church groups. She was also an active supporter of Southwest Christian High School. She enjoyed crocheting, embroidering, cooking, tending her flower and vegetable gardens, traveling and working on crafts with her husband.

Mrs. Gorter is survived by a son, Harold (Ruth) Gorter, Otley, Iowa; and a daughter, Norma (Bob) Santema, Sioux Falls; a son-in-law, Steve Bullerman, Burnsville; seven grandchildren, Howard (Melissa) Gorter, LaVergne, Tenn., Harley (Stacey) Gorter, Clive, Iowa, Rachel Gorter (fiancé, David Dick, McBain, Mich.), Otley, Iowa, Jessica (Jason) Porter, Canton, S.D., Ryan Santema, Sioux Falls, and Patrick and Christopher Bullerman, Burnsville; one brother, Don (Elaine) Kelderman, Doon, Iowa; three sisters, Jeanette (Garrett) Lems, Doon, Priscilla Spykerboer and Wilmanette Spykerboer, both of Ellsworth; and two sisters-in-law, Grace Kelderman, Waverly, Iowa, and Audrey Kelderman, Rock Valley, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Fred Gorter; a daughter, Beverly Bullerman; a grandson, Kelly Feikema; five brothers, Albert, Henry, Alvin, Lawrie and infant Walter Henry Kelderman; and three sisters, Wilma Flynn, Dorothy Stellinga, and Caroline Shutter.

Hartquist Funeral Home — Engebretson Chapel of Luverne was in charge of arrangements.