Platte – Dora (Overweg) Dykstra, 91, went to her heavenely home with family by her side on Monday, January 20, 2025 at Platte Care Center – Avera.  Funeral service will be Saturday, January 25 at 11:00 am, with visitation beginning at 10:00 am, at Aurora Reformed Church in Aurora Center.  Arrangements by Koehn Bros. Funeral Home in Stickney.

Dora was born on April 20, 1933, in the home of her parents, Gerrit and Ida (Klein) Overweg, being third oldest in a family of eight children. She grew up on her parents’ farm and attended country school through eighth grade.  

Dora was united in marriage to Alvin Dykstra on June 27,1951 in the Aurora Center parsonage, and to this union nine children were born.  Growing a large garden and canning the produce was a must to feed her family and anyone who happened to stop by at mealtime.  Heating their home with wood stoves and no indoor plumbing, she raised their children with a great deal of discipline, immeasurable amounts of love and a tremendous work ethic.

She was an excellent seamstress sewing most of her children's clothing. Quite often, Dora would see a garment in a store or catalogue then would replicate it for a loved one.  Each grandchild received a handmade quilt from Grandma Dora for their high school graduation.  For a short period of time after her children were grown, she had a couple of paid positions, as a seamstress in Mitchell and later assisting in the cafeteria at the Stickney Public School. 

Dora and Alvin were lifelong farmers west of Stickney. Together, they eventually moved to and took over Alvin’s parents’ farm in 1980 which had all modern conveniences. Alvin and Dora retired from farming in 1996 leaving the farming operation to future generations of the family.  Alvin passed a week prior to their 71st Anniversary.

Grateful for having shared her life are her nine children: Lena (Garry) Bultje of Corsica; Marion (Trish) Dykstra of Stickney; Loran (Brenda) Dykstra of Corsica; Linda (Ron) Samuelson of Platte; Bonny (Kelvin) Prien of Stickney; Norvil (Twila) Dykstra of Stickney; Marvin (Julie) Dykstra of Stickney; Betty (Jim) Selchert of New Underwood; and Wanda (Vance) Qualm of Platte; 25 grandchildren; 2 step-grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandson; two sisters, Mae Groeneweg, Thelma Bennett Donker; one brother, Albert (Ardis) Overweg.

Dora was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin; her parents; three brothers, young Albert-age 8; Dirk (Ann) Overweg, Ivan (Patty) Overweg, one sister, Cornelia "Corky"(Bud) Donker; two brothers-in-law, Roy Bennett and Norman Groeneweg; a great-grandson, Cooper Keszler (Selchert’s grandson).