Elizabeth Jonker

Elizabeth Jonker was always a homebody whose main concern in life was the well-being of her family. She always worked—and worked hard—and she never really allowed herself to slow down until she was well into her eighties. She cared deeply for all of her family and involved herself in the lives of her parents, siblings, and many nieces and nephews.

Betty was born on November 22, 1912 in Pella, Iowa, the oldest of seven children in the family of Peter and Hattie Jonker. She grew up during a time when America was smaller, quieter, and though the world was quickly moving into its first Great War, Betty enjoyed a peaceful childhood on the farm where her family grew a little bit of everything, from corn to grain to hay. Even in her early childhood, she deserved the middle name “Work.” Throughout her life, she was a hard and reliable worker, and this started in her early days on the family farm. Though she wore a dress when she worked in the fields, she was as effective as any hired man. Her father usually assigned her to outdoor chores, while her sisters mainly worked indoors. This is because Betty, in addition to her diligence, had a special way with the animals on the farm. When it came to harnessing a horse, she never needed any help, a skill that not even many men can boast.

During the Great Depression, which troubled the Jonker family like it troubled all Americans, Betty’s paternal grandfather passed away. He left behind a farm in the Grand Rapids area, a smaller field of forty acres located on 76th Street near the Byron Center. That land has since been partially replaced by Highway 131. While this farm was much smaller than the one in Iowa, there was still plenty of work to be done and Betty, along with her family, was certainly up to the task. In addition to the farming, she also took on other projects with her big flower gardens. At Michigan State University, she signed up for a course on horticulture. She knew how to prune trees properly, even if her father didn’t think so.

Besides her work on the family farm, Betty took on other forms of employment, partially to stay busy though mainly to help out with her parents’ income. She found work as the private housekeeper for a wealthy family and then she moved on to work at Pine Rest. After Pine Rest, she started working at the Clark Home where she became the head housekeeper, in charge of training and directing all the other workers. She did not lead with her words, by ordering people around or telling them what to do; she directed her staff through her own example of how to do something correctly. Throughout her life, Betty epitomized the phrase “dedicated worker.” In an example of her dedication, she actually went to work by horseback because the snow was too thick to drive her car.

Betty was a religious woman who showed the strength of her faith through the honest and good way that she lived. She was a longtime member of the Seventh Reformed Church. She exhausted her first large print Bible, and the second copy shows its frequent use in the form of many marked pages and highlightings. Betty expressed the Word of the Lord in her many volunteer activities, like the Mel Trotter Mission where she made countless quilts and served many meals for the underprivileged. True to her nature, no matter what she volunteered for, she was the kind of worker that an organization or boss considers a blessing. Betty would do any job that needed doing, and she could outwork anyone, even as she became older. When cleaning, she would even move a piano by herself to dust the area behind it. As she approached the age eighty, you could still see her climbing up to the roof to take out the fallen leaves.

Betty lived with her parents her entire life, and she always looked after both of them and took care of them. Her mother did most of the cooking, until she was no longer able to; but Betty would cook when someone needed her to, though it wasn’t her favorite job. She was not as talented in the kitchen as her mom or sisters. When her father died, Betty continued to take care of her mom, especially since all the other children had married. She and her mother had a good time together, and they often took trips out to Iowa to see their extended family. When Betty was almost eighty, her mother passed away. Shortly thereafter, she moved into the Fulton manor of Holland Home where she also volunteered with the laundry and housekeeping tasks.

At age 91, Betty finished her work on earth and is now in Heaven with her Lord and Savior. She was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Hattie Jonker; and by her sister Cora Hayes. Betty is survived by her brothers and sisters John and Sadie Jonker, Henry and Peg Jonker, Harold and Betty Jonker, Leona Overholt and Lillian Folk; as well as many nieces and nephews. A funeral service for Betty will be held on Saturday, September 25, 2004 at 2 PM in the Chapel at the Fulton Manor of Holland Home where relatives and friends are invited to meet with her family from 1 PM until the time of the service. For those who wish, memorial contributions to Holland Home – Fulton Manor are appreciated. To read her life story, share a favorite memory or send flowers, please visit www.lifestorynet.com.