Greta Sadie Verdoorn, age 96, of rural Jasper, MN passed away Wednesday October 27, 2021 at the Bethany Home in Brandon, SD. She was born July 4,1925 in Rock Valley, IA to Tom and Sadie (Zwaan) Verdoorn. Greta received her education at Rock Valley public schools where she graduated from 12th grade in 1943. After graduation, she was employed at the Bell Telephone office in Rock Valley for 4 ½ years as a telephone operator. She made her choice to serve God at a young age and she remained faithful to that commitment until her death.
On December 21, 1948, Greta was united in marriage to Elmer Veldkamp in Sioux Center, IA. Following their marriage, the couple lived and farmed north of Rock Rapids, IA for 6 years. In the spring of 1955, they purchased a farm south of Jasper, MN where they lived and raised their family. They retired from farming in 1988 and they moved into a new home they built, just down the road from their farm. Greta was a devoted farm wife helping out on the farm wherever needed, often delivering hot meals to the field for Elmer and the boys. She enjoyed raising vegetable and flower gardens for many years. She was always ready to host family and friends for a home cooked meal. Together, Elmer and Greta enjoyed traveling and spent many winters in south Texas. They were able to be in their own home until 2016 when health issues made assisted living care necessary. They spent a few months in both Sunrise Village, Jasper, MN, and Palisades Manor, Garretson, SD. They later moved into Bethany Home, Brandon, SD in September 2017, where she lived until the time of her death. In her last years, her pastimes were doing word search, coloring and sending greeting cards to friends.
After 71 years of marriage, Elmer passed away in May of 2020.
Greta is survived by her three sons, Jim Veldkamp, Loren (Bonnie) Veldkamp, and Leroy (Denise) Veldkamp, all of rural Jasper; five grandchildren, Jennifer (Dean) Lerwick, Francis, Jolyn, Alex and Keisha Veldkamp; three great grandchildlren, Kate, Ella, and Will Lerwick; two brothers-in-law, Harley Rossow and JC McKnight and a sister-in-law, Lorraine Rossow.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Elmer; son Verlyn Veldkamp on March 8, 1975; daughter-in-law JoAnn Veldkamp on August 12, 2017; one brother, Joe Verdoorn; two sisters, Ellen DeVries and Katherine Kots.
