Betty Catherine Bouma

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Betty Catherine Bouma, age 87, of Luverne, Minnesota, peacefully passed away on October 2, 2025 at Dow Rummel Village in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, October 6 at the Luverne, Minnesota Christian Reformed Church, beginning with visitation at 10:00 am, followed by a service at 11:00 am, then a meal, followed by interment at the United Reformed Cemetery in Hills, Minnesota. Pastor Joe Steenholdt will be officiating.

Arrangements are in the care of the Jurrens Funeral Home of Hills, MN.

In lieu of flowers, Bouma family asks that memorial donations be directed to your favorite charity in memory of Betty.

Betty was born on April 27, 1938, in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Gerrit J. and Christine (Van Hill) Vanden Top (later Christine Kroon). The family soon moved to Lester Iowa, where she attended school until completing the eighth grade. In 1985, she was proud to receive her General Education Development Diploma. 

Betty was united in marriage to Henry Peter Bouma at the Christian Reformed Church in Hills, Minnesota on June 15, 1956. They lived on farms in Valley Springs, South Dakota, Lester, Iowa, and Rock Rapids, Iowa, before moving to Luverne, Minnesota, where they lived for 48 years. They again lived briefly in Rock Rapids, Iowa before moving to Dow Rummel Village in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. 

After moving to Luverne, she worked in food service at Luverne Public School. Upon retiring, she placed an ad in the local laundromat and soon became very busy as a seamstress for area families, known for her skill and creativity. Central to Betty’s life was her Christian faith. She was a very active member of the Luverne Christian Reformed Church and found countless ways to share her faith with her children. 

Betty was devoted to her family, including her six children, 9 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren, as well as her extended family. While raising her children, she canned hundreds of jars of produce each year from a large garden, baked countless pies, made and mended clothing, and kept an impeccable house. Later, she sewed special outfits that were treasured by her grandchildren. She was known for making family celebrations special through her devotionals, the annual Christmas game (a new game each year), and original poems that she composed for special occasions. She also loved to play board games and, for many years, played weekly Scrabble games with residents of the Mary Jane Brown Home. She was known for her sense of humor but, most especially, for how devotedly she cared for everyone around her. 

Betty is survived by her devoted husband of 69 years, Henry Bouma, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; son Lee (Karen) Bouma of Mesa, Arizona, and their sons, Lucas and Adam Bouma; son Bradley (Jana) Bouma of Madison Lake, Minnesota and their daughter, Chandra Bouma; son Kevin (Jean) Bouma of Kabetogama, Minnesota and their children, Andria Spaeth and Derek and Tyler Bouma; son Verlyn (Diane) Bouma of Lansing, Iowa; daughter Gaylene (Kenyada) Jones of Fergus Falls, Minnesota and her children, Emily Stringham and Trevor Wolfe; son Cory (LeAnne) Bouma and their daughter, Aria Bouma; as well as nine great-grandchildren. 

She is also survived by her brother Robert “Bob” (Arlene) Vanden Top of Rock Valley, Iowa; sister-in-law Leona Vanden Top of Rock Rapids, Iowa; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Harold and Corinne Niessink of Luverne, Minnesota; and special friend Sherry (Brian) Baker of Rock Rapids, Iowa. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Gerrit and Christine Vanden Top (later Christine Kroon); stepfather Louie Kroon; and brother, Gilbert G. Vanden Top. 

Blessed be her memory.