Ruth E. Vande Stroet

Cherished wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, mentor and friend, Ruth Elaine Vande Stroet, entered her eternal glory on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at the age of 76. Ruth’s loving smile and compassionate heart welcomed everyone she met and was quickly followed by a warm hug.

Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at First Reformed Church in Rock Valley with Rev. Cliff Hoekstra officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday at Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley. Condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com. The funeral service will be livestreamed on the church website at www.rvfrc.org.

 Ruth was born on July 2, 1948, to parents Eilert and Pearl Bloemendaal of rural Doon, where she lived until 1963 when her parents moved to a farm outside of Sioux Center. There she discovered a value for hard work, caring for others, the importance of family time and being outdoors. As a young girl, she found a love for music and was often heard practicing on the piano, taking many both piano and organ lessons. She attended grade school at Doon Christian School and would graduate from Western Christian High School in 1966. 

She furthered her education at Nettleton College in Sioux Falls, SD before taking a job at a bank in Sioux Center, where she would then meet the love of her life, Peter Vande Stroet. Swept away, they were married on July 10, 1970, making their home on a farm outside of Rock Valley. Married for 55 years, they were blessed with 4 children, 14 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren, all which witnessed her many talents and gifts of sewing, gardening and canning, farm life, and spending time with each one of them. 

It was in the early years of their marriage while raising her family and being a farm wife, that Ruth attended Dordt college to obtain her teaching certificate, and would begin a lifelong commitment to teaching, taking every opportunity to teach or share God’s love. Upon graduation she took a job as a Reading Resource teacher at Rock Valley Elementary school and over the years she would have various teaching roles, from the classroom to tutoring one on one, as a Drivers Ed instructor, in Sunday school, to leading the church Youth Group and women’s Bible studies. She leaves behind a great legacy, reaching thousands of students that she taught, encouraged, and influenced over many years. 

Along with teaching, Ruth was well known for being a wonderful pianist and graced her church home for many years as the accompanist for Sunday services but was also known to play for many, many weddings, funerals and special occasions within the community. 

At the center of Ruth’s life was a deep love for Christ and her family. Always ready to share her faith, Ruth encouraged many through prayers, dropping by for visits and teaching in various church roles. She shared her love of gardening with her family and looked forward to freezing corn or canning tomatoes with Julie, evenings fishing or riding motorcycle with Peter, or listening to the hunting stories of the boys. She loved fixing puzzles, reading Chicka Chicka Boom Boom to her grandchildren, sewing their Christmas pajamas or graduation quilts, and making their favorite food for Sunday dinners, often with Charlie Brown Pie for dessert. A crochet hook and yarn were often seen laying by her chair, a potholder being made for someone already in mind. 

Until her last breath, Ruth maintained her kindness and grace, leaving a heritage of faith, love and service to others that will carry on in the many lives she touched. 

Left to cherish Ruth’s memory are her four children, Jennifer (Scott) Bakeberg of Lino Lakes, Minnesota, Michael (Carmen) Vande Stroet of Hull, Iowa, Julie (Chad) Van Voorst of Rock Valley, Iowa, and Loren (Mellisa) Vande Stroet of Hot Springs, South Dakota; grandchildren, Trevor Engeljtes, Jenna (Zane) Waring, Michaela Vande Stroet (fiancé Jesse Zeutenhorst), Kyra (Tate) Rauscher, Hannah (Levi) Metzger, Reid Vande Stroet (fiancée Ashlie Saavedra), Tyler (Jordan) Van Voorst, Blaine Van Voorst, Lathan Van Voorst, Makena Bakeberg, Thad Vande Stroet, Brett Bakeberg, Amaya Van Voorst, and Taryn Vande Stroet, and 10 great grandchildren; her sisters, Irene Ter Wee of Larchwood, Iowa, and Harriet (Cornelius) Van Beek of Sioux Center, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Denise (Rick) Vande Stroet of Oskaloosa, Iowa and Jeanette (Gerard) Van Beek of Inwood, Iowa; and brother-in-law, Robert (Jeanne) Ver Mulm of Sioux Center, Iowa. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Peter Vande Stroet; her parents, Eilert and Pearl Bloemendaal; her sister, Joyce Ver Mulm; brother, Ken Bloemendaal; her parents-in-law, Gilbert and Nellie Vande Stroet; sisters-in-law, Evelyn Vande Stroet and Bernice Hamiton; her brothers-in-law, Rick Vande Stroet, Gerrit Van Veldhuizen, Cornie Van Beek, and Henry Ter Wee; her granddaughter, Courtney (Trevor) Engeltjes, and great granddaughter, Kasey Engeltjes.