Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
A funeral service for Hermina A. “Mina” Van Kley was held Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022, at First Reformed Church in Sanborn. Pastor Mark Ellens officiated.
Pallbearers were Chad Van Kley, Kurtis Van Kley, Brett Van Kley, Taylor Van Kley, Brady Van Kley and Blake Van Kley. Honorary pallbearers were Kay Beigh, Heather Van Kley, Hailey Gaunt, Chad Gaunt, Miche Van Kley, Bernie Beigh, Jamie Van Kley, Amanda Van Kley, Pamela Van Kley and nine great-grandchildren. Interment was in Roseland Cemetery at Sanborn. Sanborn Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.
Hermina Alice “Mina” (Van Engen) Van Kley was born June 7, 1928 in Archer, the daughter of John and Tena (Van Roekel) Van Engen. She attended schools in Sioux Center and Sibley, graduating from Sibley High School in 1946. Mina attended a summer semester at Westmar College in LeMars where she earned a teaching certificate, and then taught for one year at a rural school near Sibley.
Hermina was united in marriage to Cornie Van Kley on March 3, 1948, at the Christian Reformed Church in Sibley. For three years the couple lived in a small house on the Case Van Kley farm near Sibley, and then moved to Sanborn in 1953. Cornie and Mina would live at the same residence in Sanborn the rest of their lives. Cornie worked for O’Brien County Co-op Creamery (AMPI) for 38 years while Mina was a faithful housewife, selling Stanley Home Products and Avon Products while raising their three sons. She later worked at Prairie View Nursing Home in Sanborn, and along with Cornie served for 23 years as custodian of the First Reformed Church in Sanborn where they were both members.
Cornie and Mina’s sons, Craig, Dennis and Douglas, all graduated from Sanborn High School and Northwestern College in Orange City, becoming teachers and coaches and making their parents proud. Mina always enjoyed attending her boys’ sporting events and watching Yankees and Twins baseball games with her husband and sons. Fishing, camping and playing card games were also on her list of favorite activities, but probably her best times were those just spent with her family. One of her last days she expressed with joy her love for Jesus, her family, her friends and the Stay in Home workers who helped her this past year because she wasn’t going to leave her home.
Cornie entered Heaven on July 17, 2006, and Mina joined her beloved husband and the Lord Jesus on Monday, Aug. 15, 2022, having passed into victory at Sanford Sheldon Hospital in Sheldon, at the age of 94.
Keeping Mina’s memory close at heart are her sons: Craig and Sharon Van Kley, of Blue Earth, Minn., and their three children: Kay (Bernie) Beigh, Chad (Jaime) Van Kley and Kurt (Amanda) Van Kley; Dennis and Sandy Van Kley, of Sioux Center, and their three children: Taylor (Pam) Van Kley, Dr. Brett Van Kley and Brady (Miche) Van Kley; and Douglas (Michelle) Van Kley, of Edgerton, Minn., and their three children: Heather, Hailey (Chad) Gaunt and Blake; 16 great-grandchildren: Kalison and Benjamin Beigh, Cadrian, Kasen, Lincoln and Roman Van Kley, Ella, Avery and Eli Van Kley, Jack, Lilianna and Alayna Van Kley, Hawkyn and Liowyn Van Kley, Noah Voge and Auburn Gaunt; her sister, Tina Buysman, of Sioux Falls, S.D.; sister-in-law, Dorothy Van Kley, of Sanborn; and last but not least, her faithful dog companion of 16 years, Teddy.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Cornie; five sisters: Gert (Joe) Baker, Nancy (Nick) Cuperus, Clazina (Mitch) Vander Veen, Alice Van Engen and Johanna (Jake) Vos; seven brothers: Abe Van Engen, Gerrit “Gary” Van Engen, John Van Engen, Gerrit Van Engen, George Van Engen, William Van Engen and Albert Van Engen.
