Wilma Joyce Van Der Linden, age 86, of Kenneth, died Saturday, September 28, 2024, after a two year battle with pancreatic cancer, at Hospice of Murray County in Slayton.

Funeral services were Monday, October 7, at 10:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Lismore, officiated by Pastor Thomas Voigt. Burial was in the St. Anthony West Cemetery in Lismore.

Wilma was born November 20, 1937, on a farm near Lebanon, Iowa, to William and Grace (Den Hartog) Vlietstra. She was baptized at the First Reformed Church of Inwood, Iowa. Wilma began school at the country school south of Inwood. She moved with her family to a farm west of Orange City, Iowa, in March of 1944, where they farmed for many years. She graduated from the eighth grade in 1951. Wilma became a member of the First Reformed Church on March 28, 1954. She cleaned houses, babysat and helped on the farm.

Wilma married John Van Der Linden on November 22, 1957, in Orange City. The couple worked as hired hands for area farmers. In March of 1965, they rented a farm southeast of Hawarden, Iowa. In March of 1968, they moved to a farm near Kenneth, Minn., where they farmed for many years. After their farm sale in 1982, Wilma worked at Huisken Meat Center in Chandler for over fourteen years before retiring in 2001.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Lismore. She enjoyed gardening, sewing, and quilting. She made bread and did a lot of baking. She loved her grandchildren and enjoyed mending and sewing for them.

Wilma is survived by her son, James (Lorna) Van Der Linden, Lismore; daughter, Joyce (Mark) Wiekeraad, Lake Wilson; four grandchildren: Matthew (Heather) and their children, John, Cheyenne, Grace, and Wyatt; Eric (Brittany) and their children, Damian and Greyson; Katie (Brian) and their child, Gavin; and Sabrina; three sisters: Genevieve (Gerald) Hiserote, Sioux City, Iowa; Charlotte (Roger) Vander Schaaf, Lake Wilson; and Shirley (Robert) Gochee, Illinois City, Ill.; two brothers: William Jr. (Judy) Vlietstra, Orange City; and Kenneth Vlietstra, Orange City; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John on April 24, 2002; granddaughter, Jessica Wiekeraad in 1996; brother, Henry in 1971; sister-in-law, Maryanne Vlietstra in 2007; a special friend, Howard in 2013; and those grand- and great-grandchildren that passed away before we could hold them in our arms.