Harmina "Minnie" Antje Siepelinga Horlings

Having survived the German occupation of her homeland as a young girl, Minnie the young woman attended college, eventually becoming a teacher--a career she pursued as she married Reint Menno Horlings in 1955 and which she continued until the young couple immigrated first to Canada in 1959, then on to the United States in 1961.

Minnie, Reint and their two children initially landed in Los Angeles, eventually moving in 1969 to the then-tiny town of El Toro in southern Orange County, and ultimately building their dream home in Modjeska Canyon. The couple had a passion for Saint Bernards and Bouvier des Flanders.Minnie served as the show secretary for a number of major Saint Bernard dog shows in Southern California. Many years later they retired to Laguna Woods.

Minnie's hands never sat still, instead always crafting or cooking something meaningful: crocheted caps for American servicemen or cancer patients through Knots of Love; her culinary specialties of Dutch Bitterballen, her son Hiddo's lifelong favorite, and applesauce. Anyone who knew Minnie well very likely has something she knitted or crocheted for them, or the memories or recipes of the Dutch mainstays that regularly filled her kitchen with the aromas of her birthplace.

After her loving husband, Reint, passed away in 2017, she maintained her busy lifestyle. She joined a neighborhood needlework club, where she made some very dear friends. During the past two years, she crocheted hundreds of what came to be known as "ear savers", to lessen the tension of elastic caused by mask wearing. She also began exploring new food with her daughter (and friend), Joanne, including a discovered passion for sushi, poke bowls and empanadas.

Until the end, Minnie lived on her own, never losing her keen wit and sharp mind. She joyfully tracked family and friends via Facebook on her Ipad, occasionally (and accidentally) facetiming here and there--never quite sure how she managed to do that, but enjoying it just the same.

She was, ultimately, the last of her generation, surviving her husband, Reint, and her brothers, Jaap and Bertus. She lived a great and long life on her own terms, had a beautiful 61-year marriage, and will be forever loved and forever missed by her two children and their spouses, Hiddo (and wife Jane) and Joanne (and husband Mike), plus many nieces and nephews, all of whom will always cherish their memories of this courageous and special woman.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.fairhavenmemorialservices.com for the Horlings family.

Anyone wishing to pay tribute to Minnie may do so in her name with a contribution to:

Saint Bernard Club of San Diego

Attention: Lynette Jenkins, Treasurer

2029 Hyperion Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90027

Secretary Saint Bernard Club of San Diego, Inc.