Stamboom van de familie Borkhuis

Obituary for Louise Borkhuis

Funeral Mass for Louise M. Borkhuis, of Watertown, SD, formerly Henry, SD will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 in the St. Henry’s Catholic Church, Henry, SD. Fr. Doug Binsfeld will officiate. Louise passed away, at the young age of 96 years, 3 months and 7 days, on October 27, 2007 at a care center in Watertown, SD. She was the widow of Lowell Borkhuis. Special thanks to the loving caregivers of Jenkins Living Center and Prairie Lakes Hospice Program for helping make Louise’s journey dignified and comfortable to the very end.

Burial will be in the St. Henry’s Cemetery, Henry, SD. Honorary pallbearers will be Louise’s granddaughters: Rita Borkhuis Kannas, Tracy Tiffany, Bridget Tiffany, Molly DeBerg Randall, Becky Borkhuis, and Mikel Borkhuis-Scholten. Active pallbearers will be Louise’s grandsons: Rick Borkhuis, Rodney Borkhuis, Greg DeBerg, Troy DeBerg, Jason Borkhuis, Max Borkhuis, Joe Borkhuis, and a dear family friend, John Blais. Music will be provided by Donna Williams, organist and Blaine Martian, song leader.

Visitation will be in the Crawford Funeral Chapel, Watertown, SD on Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. with a Scripture Wake Service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue at the church on Wednesday preceding the service. The family is requested to meet at the church by 10:00 a.m. to attend the service.

Louise was born on July 20, 1911 at Wheatfield, MI to Emil and Amelia (Von Damme) Landuyt. Louise moved with her family to Wessington, SD in 1921 and attended country school. Louise’s mother died when she was seventeen years old and 2 years later, Louise’s father returned to Belgium, living there until the time of his death.

Louise married Lowell Borkhuis on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1935 at Wessington, SD in a double wedding ceremony with her twin brother, Louis Landuyt and Wilma Wirt. Following their marriage, Louise and Lowell farmed near Wessington, SD and later moved to the Watertown and Henry, SD areas in 1941. There they raised 4 children. Lowell passed away , at the early age of 56, on February 23, 1967. Louise moved to Watertown in the late 1990’s and later entered Jenkins Living Center in Watertown.

Louise was a long time member of St. Henry’s Catholic Church in Henry, SD and really enjoyed participating in the annual Hunter’s Dinner, a fundraising event for St. Henry’s. Louise was the only remaining Charter Member of the Fairview Birthday Club and always attended the Birthday Club meetings regularly. Louise loved to sew and cook for her family and friends of the family.

Louise is survived by her children: Wayne Borkhuis of Watertown, SD and his friend, Anne of MN, Jeanette Tiffany and her husband, David Anderson, of Minneapolis, MN, JoAnn and her husband, Richard DeBerg of rural Henry, SD, and Larry and his wife, Deb Borkhuis of rural Henry, SD; thirteen grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, one very dear sister-in-law, Phyllis Jellis of Watertown, SD and one brother-in-law, Jean Brown of Portland, OR.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lowell, two sisters, two brothers, and one son-in-law, Gary Tiffany.