Miriam Ruth Hibma

Livestream of Funeral Service

Miriam Ruth (Dreesen) Hibma, age 80, passed away peacefully on May 25, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of faith, family, and laughter. Miriam (Mim) was born January 2, 1946, in Ocheyedan, Iowa to John and Helen (Schneiderman) Dreesen.

Mim was the sixth of 13 children. She shared fond memories of playing outside and participating in farm chores with her siblings. Life on the farm instilled in Mim a strong work ethic and commitment to family. She graduated from Ocheyedan High School before attending Worthington Junior College and Bethel College, where she played basketball and served as a Resident Assistant. After graduating with a degree in economics, she joined Control Data Corporation in St. Paul, Minnesota, as a statistician and analyst. Before taking time to stay home with her children she worked in the payroll department at Chase Bag in Sibley, Iowa. She later spent 26 years working as a Program Assistant for the USDA before her retirement in 2011.

After marrying Paul Hibma in 1971, she returned to Iowa, and they began their life together on a farm near Harris. Paul and Mim welcomed Minde and Kari to the family while living in Ocheyedan before moving to what became the home farm south of Ocheyedan in 1979. There, the family was completed with the birth of Tim in 1981.

Her faith and serving the church played a central role in her life. She spent years teaching Sunday school and AWANA and served as the Missions Treasurer. For many years, her church was blessed with her efforts to beautifully decorate the sanctuary for Christmas. She found fellowship and friendship in her bible study. After retirement, she dedicated her time to volunteering in multiple ways with Love INC in Worthington, MN.

Mim truly loved the simple pleasures of life on the farm: finding joy in being outside, sitting on the porch, keeping a close eye on her asparagus patch, and riding on the golf cart with her grandkids. Daily drop-ins by Tim and visits from her grandchildren added to the daily rhythm of her life. Mim was a dedicated viewer of Wheel of Fortune, lover of Sudoku, enjoyed a good cup of black coffee, and read nearly all the books in her church library. She could be counted on to lend a listening ear and loved to laugh at a funny story. Mim was a beloved friend to many, including many former Sunday School students and their families.

Above all, Mim will be remembered as a devoted grandmother who loved playing jokes, telling stories, and attending every activity she could: she was her grandchildren's biggest cheerleader. Her purse was always stocked with candy, and she would slip a few dollars or a little treasure to her grandchildren after each visit. Whether it was driving to activities in Northwest Iowa or taking a flight across the country, Mim delighted in being a part of her children and grandchildren’s lives. In a beautiful final chapter, just a week before her passing, she was surrounded by the family she adored as they celebrated her oldest grandson's wedding.

She is survived by her children: Minde (Matt) Schuiteman, Kari (Jonathan) Hicks, and Tim (Annie) Hibma, and her cherished grandchildren: Micah, Marshall (Shailynn), Miles, Margo, McArthur, Mallory, and Monique Schuiteman, Greta, Silas, Eva, and Helen Hicks, Magnolia and Sullivan Hibma.

She is also survived by her siblings, Ben (Karen) Dreesen, Janelle (Gary) Drent, John (Anita) Dreesen, Judy (Cecil) Walden, Bob (Patti) Dreesen, Peggy Luke, Lynette (Dale) Nystrom, Jolene (Lee) Bruns, brothers-in-law, David Mayer, Jerry (Myrna) Breuker, sister-in-law, Lynne Dreesen; Paul’s siblings, Lois (Wayne) Hasselblad, Mim Ernst, Joe Hibma, Judy (Lowell) Dykstra, Jerry (Nancy) Hibma, and Steve (Lori) Hibma, sisters-in-law, Laurel and Bonnie Hibma and many nieces, nephews, and other extended family members.

She was preceded in death by her husband Paul, her parents, John and Helen Dreesen, Paul’s parents, Pierce and Charlotte Hibma, sisters, Janola (James) Murra, Sherla Mayer, Char Breuker, brother, Don Dreesen, brothers-in-law, Dennis Bremer and Gene Luke; Paul’s siblings, Bob Hibma, Barbara (Wes) Peters, Dan Hibma, brother-in-law, Harold Ernst, sisters-in-law, Marian and Suzanne Hibma, and other extended family members.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to Love INC.

A memorial service will be at 2:30 PM, Friday, June 26, 2026, at Indian Lake Baptist Church, rural Worthington. A private graveside service will take place prior to the memorial service at Ocheyedan Township Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, Thursday, June 25th at Indian Lake Baptist Church, rural Worthington.