Gertrude Grace “Gert” (DeRuyter) Van Engen was born to Dick and Lena (Kooistra) DeRuyter on December 8, 1927, at Beaver Creek, Minnesota. Her family moved to Iowa, and then to Hills, Minnesota where she met Dick Van Engen; they were married December 18, 1946.   

    Dick and Gert farmed at Doon, Iowa and Melvin, Iowa until 1984 when they retired and moved to Luverne, Minnesota. Following Dick’s death on August 23, 1995, Gert continued to live in their home for several years before moving to the Centennial Apartments located in Luverne. Wanting to be closer to her family, she became a resident at Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley, Iowa in 2015. While living there, she made many new friends – both residents and staff.

    Gert was a faithful wife, mother and grandmother, caring for each one. She loved gardening, having coffee with her neighbors, quilting, and refinishing old furniture. She was always baking and cooking, ready to serve her family or anyone who stopped by the house. Having five sons, the Van Engen farm was host to many kids over the years.

    Left to cherish her memory are her children: Doug (Brenda) Van Engen of Branson, Missouri, Cliff (Marlys) Van Engen of Hartley, Iowa,  Darrel Van Engen of Primghar, Iowa, Myron (Connie) Van Engen of Melvin, Iowa and Curt (Donna) Van Engen of Hartley, Iowa; 13 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; two sisters: Mina (Ed) Poppens, and Carol (Rich) Hill; three sisters-in-law: Shirley DeRuyter, Linda Wissink and Fran DeRuyter; many nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.

    She was preceded in death by her husband, Dick; her parents, Dick and Lena DeRuyter; six siblings: John DeRuyter, Mary Gunnick, Rich DeRuyter, Spark DeRuyter, Nellie Schoonhoven and Gerrit DeRuyter; four in-laws: Margaret DeRuyter, Pete Gunnick, Eleanor DeRuyter, and John Schoonhoven; and daughter-in-law, Luisa Hornick.

Memorials given to honor Gert’s memory will be directed to the

Union Gospel Mission and the Christian Worship Hour.