Burnetta "Bernie" Ann DeLeeuw

Memorial Service Recording Link

Burnetta “Bernie” DeLeeuw, age 71, of Rock Rapids, Iowa, died Friday, August 7, 2026, at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Visitation will be on Monday, August 10th from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, with family present at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids, Iowa.

Memorial service will be at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids, Iowa, with Pastor Drew Riter and Pastor Deb Klaassen officiating.

Burial will be in the Pleasant View Cemetery in Little Rock at a later date.

Burnetta Ann Herding was born on August 22, 1954, in Sibley, Iowa, the daughter of Herbert and Henrietta (Krull) Herding. Bernie grew up in Little Rock and later graduated from Little Rock High School. Following her graduation, she went to nursing school in Carroll, Iowa. In June of 1976, Bernie was united in marriage to Alan DeLeeuw in Little Rock, Iowa. They lived in the country near Ellsworth, Minnesota. To this union, four children were born: Shane, Melissa, Heather, and Laci. The couple later divorced. Bernie enjoyed hiking in the mountains, vacationing with her family, and loved going to her grandkid’s activities. Her kids and grandkids were most important in her life. Bernie had a knack for getting the grandkids to spill their secrets. Bernie really enjoyed laughter amongst family and friends. If you knew Bernie, her laugh was one of a kind. Bernie worked for Novartis, and after retiring, she enjoyed taking trips with her good friend Mary.

Left to cherish her memory are her four children, Shane (Melinda) DeLeeuw of George, Iowa, Melissa (Jim) Van Holland of Rock Rapids, Iowa, Heather (Micah) Freese of Rock Rapids, Iowa, and Laci (Jaime) Meinerts of Rock Rapids, Iowa; nine grandchildren, Collin, Kyle, and Carly DeLeeuw; Cameryn and Brooklyn Van Holland; Carter and Tenley Freese; and Landon and Graham Meinerts; two siblings, Kevin (Lynette) Herding of George, Iowa and Barb Herding of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; nieces, nephews, and other extended family.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Herbert and Henrietta Herding.