Obituary of Mabell de Jonge

   Harrison - Mabell de Jonge, 107, died at Good Samaritan Society in Corsica on Friday, December 21, 2018. Funeral service will be Monday, December 24, 2018 at 10:30 AM at Harrison Community Church (North Church) with visitation held an hour prior to the service with burial following in Harrison City Cemetery. Arrangements by Koehn Bros. Funeral Home in Armour.

   Mabell de Jonge was born on May 23, 1911 on the family farm southwest of Corsica, SD. She was the 7th of 10 children born to C.H. and Katie (Haze Beukelman. She received an 8th grade education in the local country school, walking both ways! She married Frank de Jonge at his farm home on September 14, 1934. They partnered in farming until their retirement to Corsica in 1980. Mabell raised chickens, chased pigs, milked cows, planted gardens, raised flowers, and helped plant and harvest crops. Her family remembered the clothing she sewed along with many quilts, afghans, and crocheted pieces. She enjoyed playing Scrabble with her sisters, 500 card games with family and friends,
and hosting meals and serving lunches from a kitchen that never closed. During her lifetime, she saw many changes. However, the coming of rural electricity brought the greatest change to her personal life and even more so to the life of farming (especially milking machines). She was also very involved in her church and community and spent many hours doing volunteer work.

   Mabell was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Two daughters, Sandy and Kathy were raised on this farm. Later, sons-in-law and 6 grandchildren enjoyed spending time on the farm and their Corsica home. Mabell died at Good Samaritan Society on Friday, December 21, 2018 at the age of 107.

   Survivors include her daughter, Sandy (Ken) Eben of Sibley, IA and their children, Chad Eben and son, Chance of Greeley, CO, Eric Eben and friend, Tim, Atlanta, GA, Craig (Naidra) Eben and daughter, Maday and son, Mikasi of the Canary Islands, daughter, Kathy Alles of Grand Haven, MI and her children, Nathan (Jane) Minnaar and children, Megan and William of Boyne City, MI, Trisha Minnaar and children, Makayla and Michael of Spring Lake, MI and Rachel Minnaar of Albuquerque, NM, sister, Alice Den Besten of Holland, MI and many nieces and nephews. 

   Preceding her in death are her parents, husband in 1994, mother-in-law, grandson, Ryan Minnaar in 2011, 5 brothers, Henry (Ruth), Art (Rena), Ed (Hattie), Ray (Fannie) and Lee (Wanda), 3 sisters, Ada (Richard) Markus, Anna (Bill) Smits, and Minnie (Ed) Doorn, and Frank's sisters, Marie (Mike) Le Compte, Cora (Verne) Beukelman, and Antionette (Sam) VanderWoude, and Alice's husband, Fred Den Besten.