Ruth Van Dyke

Ruth Van Dyke was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She loved to cook and sew, sharing her talent with her family and friends. She also loved music and spending time outdoors in nature.

Born on October 17, 1930 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Leonard and Agnes Stehouwer, Ruth was the baby of four daughters. (She had a life-long nickname of “Babe”.) Leonard and Agnes worked hard to raise Ruth and her three older sisters, Leonard owning Stehouwer Market while Agnes stayed home to care for the girls and run the household. The decade that followed Ruth’s birth, was known as the Great Depression. Ruth and her sisters learned early on the importance of hard work and frugality. Even though these were hard economic times, Ruth still had fond memories of her childhood. She recalled ice skating at Briggs Park and racing on a sled at Kent Hills Golf Club on the “speed top.” She also played softball at Palmer Elementary, where she and her friends attended school. She helped her dad fill orders at his market at Center and Ann St. in northeast Grand Rapids.

At Creston High School, where Ruth excelled as an honor student, she met a young man named Don Van Dyke. Don sat behind Babe in typing class and kept asking her for pencils. Ruth would pass the pencils back without even looking but eventually Don won a date with Babe and went to a football game. Afterward, they enjoyed some ice cream at Joppes Dairy. They continued to date for a year, before making their love official at the Justice of the Peace on April 26, 1947.

Ruth and Don started their married life together on a farm on the north end of Grand Rapids. They lived there rent free because they agreed to tend the farm. Ruth candled chickens eggs and then had Don deliver them to market. They only had a wood stove for cooking and heating the house. The lessons they learned when they were young came in handy, since they had to watch every penny to make ends meet. From 1948 through 1953, Ruth and Don brought four beautiful children into the world: Robert, Daniel, Kathleen, and Cheri. Don worked as a journeyman glazer at Pittsburg Plate Glass. He later pursued a career with the Grand Rapids Fire Department.

The children have wonderful memories of their childhood. They remember playing outside, spending a lot of time with neighborhood friends. When it was time for Don to come home, they recall playing or wrestling on the floor. Ruth would usually call out and ask them to stop before someone got hurt, which inevitibly happened.

In the summer the family spent many happy hours in Northern Michigan. Later the family purchased a cabin near Traverse City and kept it for thirty-five years (even retiring there).

In her spare time, Ruth enjoyed cooking for the family, making their favorites: fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy. Ruth was known for her homemade pies, which she routinely made for family get-togethers. Later, Ruth enjoyed oil painting and making scrapbooks with her grandchildren. She also liked to sew when she had the time.

Ruth enjoyed listening to classical music and was very musically talented herself. She could sing, play the piano and even yodel! Her faith was very important to Ruth. She and Don made sure the children attended church and Sunday School and had a firm foundation in Christianity.

Later, when Ruth and Don became grandparents, they reveled in that role. They kept apprised of all their grandchildren's activities, and became very involved in their lives, helping in whatever way they could. They took their grandchildren on trips to the zoo, nature center and the beach.

Ruth had a pleasant personality by nature. She was cheerful, optimistic and positive, leading others by example. She and Don had life-long friends from their childhood days on the north end of Grand Rapids. Ruth was proud that she had friendships that spanned a lifetime.

Ruth Van Dyke was a dedicated wife and mother to her husband, children and grandchildren, who delighted in time with her family. She was a great cook and enjoyed sharing that talent. She will be missed by all who were blessed to know her in her long and fruitful life.

Ruth A. Van Dyke passed away on Wednesday, October 15, 2008. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Cheri Lynn. Ruth is survived by her husband of 61 years, Donald C. Van Dyke; children, Robert L. (Jan) Van Dyke, Daniel L. (Janie) Van Dyke, and Kathleen R. Doering; grandchildren, Shannon (Martin) Andree, Matthew (Michelle) Van Dyke, Heather (Mike) Peters, Danielle (Luke) Young, Laurie (Corey) Bird, and Hope Van Dyke; 4 great-grandchildren; sisters, Dorothy Engelsman and Lois Stehouwer; lifelong friend, Bernie Murray; and all the family and friends at Olivet Reformed Church. The funeral will be held at 10 AM on Saturday at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes, 1833 Plainfield NE. Friends may visit with the family on Friday from 4-7 PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Olivet Reformed Church Missionary Fund. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to archive a memory, photo, or sign the guestbook if you are unable to attend.