Beverly Ann (Wieberdink) Ryks

Beverly Ann Ryks, age 89, of Clara City, passed away Wednesday, October 1, at the Clara City Care Center.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, October 8, at the Raymond Christian Reformed Church.  Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery in Raymond.  Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 7, at the Raymond Christian Reformed Church and will continue for one hour prior to the service on Wednesday.  Arrangements are with the Tri-County Funeral Home in Prinsburg.   www.tricountyfuneral.com

Beverly was born on May 7, 1936, on the family farm near Prinsburg, Minnesota, the daughter of William and Helena (Van Der Bill) Wieberdink.  She grew up in the Prinsburg community, received her education through 8th grade in Prinsburg and graduated from Clara City High School in 1954.  After graduation, Bev enjoyed doing clerical work at 3M and Rice Memorial Hospital.  On July 8, 1955, at First Christian Reformed Church in Prinsburg, Beverly was united in marriage to Melbourne "Mel" Ryks.  They lived briefly in Alameda, California, while Mel was in the service.  In 1956, they moved back to the area and lived in a trailer on the family farm north of Raymond.  For several summers, they would travel and live in different areas in Minnesota while Mel worked on road construction. In 1965 they took over the family farming operation where mom enjoyed being a homemaker and shared in the farm work.

Beverly was a member of the Raymond Christian Reformed Church and was active in ladies aide, Calvinettes and a Sunday school teacher.  Beverly enjoyed embroidery work, camping, hiking and traveling to many of the state and national parks.  In her later years, she enjoyed volunteering at New 2 You Thrift store and puzzling. They spent over 25 years as "snowbirds", wintering down in Tucson, Arizona.

She is survived by her loving husband of over 70 years, Mel; three children, Merlin (and Shirley) Ryks of Sioux Center, Iowa, Kevin Ryks (and Betty Strommer) of Roseland and Renae (and Terry) Epema of Clara City; eight grandchildren, Brady (and Katie), Travis, Ryan, Brian (and Elizabeth), Joshua (and Claudia), Kailee (and Trent), Justin (and Elizabeth) and Brittney (and Nicholas); and seventeen great grandchildren.  Also surviving is a sister, Sandra Slagter of Grand Rapids, Michigan, besides other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two siblings, Lorraine and Vernol.

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