Helen Alicia VanDyk Holkeboer

Helen was born 31 Dec 1925 in Holland, Michigan to Albert Berend & Fannie (Plasman) VanDyk to join her sister, Mary Elizabeth VanDyk Grote.

Mom died on 1 Jul 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington at the ripe age of 99.5 for which she was very proud. She wanted to live to 100, but that was not to be.

She went thru the Holland District School graduating from Holland High School in 1943. From there, she went to Hope College in Holland graduating in 1948 with a degree in Education. Her 1st teaching job was in Traverse City, Michigan.

On 1 Jul 1949 at Third Reformed Church in Holland she was married to Gilbert Holkeboer. This began a lifelong journey of serving God and on 6 Aug 1949, she and Gil were on their way to Lupwe, Nigeria where dad taught school and she pinched hitted.

In 1954, they returned to Holland, Michigan and started the adoption process. In june 1956, they were blessed with adopting Miriam Ruth Holkeboer at the age of 4 weeks. Then in 1957, while dad was going to Seminary at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, they adopted Grant VanDyk Holkeboer on 31 Oct 1957.

In 1958, the family of 4 headed back to Nigeria, where dad & mom started a station in Serti, Nigeria- starting from scratch (looking for the land, building the buildings (compound), the Serti Church but in 1967 due to dad's health, we returned to Holland, Michigan.

From there, dad took a church in Bellingham, Washington in the Bellingham Christian Reformed Church. In 1969, he decided to start a new vocation and the family moved to Seattle. He became a social worker and then in 1977, mom & dad decided to move back to Michigan.

Mom had many jobs- wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, teacher and faithful follower of God. Church was very important to her and she sang in many choirs from an early age to the 2000's when her voice would no longer cooperate with her ability.

She was an artist, singer, a great cook, and decorator changing the house to match the season of the year.

Helen is survived by her children Miriam Herron (Michael) and Grant Holkeboer; 1 granddaughter Katherine Clemmens; 2 great granddaughters Sara Alicia Harrison and Kythera Paige Ausmus; her 2nd husband Gary Williams; sister-in-law Alma Holkeboer; and numerous nieces and nephews, as well as other family and friends.

She is predeceased by her parents, sister, her 1st husband, and other family members.

A Celebration of Life will be held on 2 Aug 2025 at the Maplewood Presbyterian Church 19523 84th Ave W, Edmonds, WA 98026 at 2 pm with reception following.