Bertha Brands

Rock Valley, IA: Bertha Brands, 86, of Rock Valley, died Saturday, December 14, 2013 at Whispering Heights, Rock Valley. Funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 20, 2013 at First Christian Reformed Church, Rock Valley with Rev. Matthew Haan officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery. Visitation, with the family present, will be held Thursday, December 19, 2013 from 6:00 ' 7:30 p.m. at Porter Funeral Home, Rock Valley. Condolences may be left for the family at www.porterfuneralhomes.com.

Bertha was born March 16, 1927 at Sioux Center, Iowa, daughter of Lammert and Kate (Bosch) Hoogland. Bertha married Gerrit Brands on February 24, 1950 at Sioux Center. Together they lived and farmed southwest of Rock Valley, where Bertha raised and butchered many chickens and loved gardening. Bertha and Gerrit moved to Rock Valley in 1986, at which time, Bertha served several Rock Valley businesses with janitorial work. She also helped the Rock Valley Senior Center with making meals and baking cookies. Gerrit died May 23, 2005 and Bertha moved to Whispering Heights on April 22, 2009. Bertha was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church and Ruth Circle. She enjoyed embroidering, crocheting and quilting.

Surviving relatives include her two daughters, Karen (Gary) Vander Schaaf of Edgerton, Minnesota, and Geraldine (Jerry) Runia of Estelline, South Dakota; seven grandchildren, Denise (Dave) Hanisch, Christy (Steve) Van Heerde, Daniel (Tiffany) Runia, Sherry Runia, David Runia, Jeff Vander Schaaf, and Kevin (Sarah) Vander Schaaf; three great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Hanisch, Riley Van Heerde, Leah Van Heerde, and two more on their way; brothers, Alfred (Ethel) Hoogland of Sioux Center, Dick (Joan) Hoogland of Sioux Center; sister-in-law, Effie Brands of Rock Valley; brother-in-laws, Melvin Brands of Sheldon, Iowa, and Albert (Alice) Brands of Mesa, Arizona.

Bertha was preceded in death by her husband Gerrit; an infant daughter; daughter, Janice Brands; two infant granddaughters; sister, Alyce Brands; and brother, John Hoogland.