Hilda Van Ekeren, 100, died at the Good Samaritan Center on Wed., January 23. Funeral service will be Sat., January 26 at 10:30 AM at the Christian Reformed Church in Corsica with burial following in Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, January 25, 2013 from 5 - 7 PM at Koehn Bros. Funeral Chapel in Corsica with a prayer service at 7:00 PM.

Hilda Van Ekeren was born November 8, 1912 on a farm southwest of Corsica in Douglas County to Dewey and Hattie (Bultema) Westra, both from Holland. She attended country school near their home where she learned English. After graduating from 8th grade and the loss of her parents, she worked for many different families as a "live-in" doing housework and caring for young children. Hilda was a baptized and faithful member of the Corsica Christian Reformed Church. On April 2, 1931 she married John Van Ekeren at the church parsonage. Hilda worked in John's families bakery in Corsica early in their marriage and continued to do babysitting at her home. She loved reading and read her Bible every day. Hilda enjoyed music, played the accordion, embroidered and was a wonderful seamstress making clothes for her family as well as doll clothes. She was also an exceptional cook and baker. The whole family loved coming over to eat all the goodies she made - especially her cookies, pies and pigs-in-a-blanket. John and Hilda lived in Corsica their entire married life. During retirement they liked spending time at the Senor Citizens Center socializing and playing games. John died October 19, 1992 after 62 years of marriage. Hilda stayed living in their home until April 22, 2008 when she moved to the Good Samaritan Society Nursing Home in Corsica. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother.

Thankful for having shared in Hilda's life are 1 daughter: Donna Mae (Dale) Bormann of Corsica, 1 son-in-law: Gordon (Mary Lou) Kredit of Corsica, 4 grandchildren: Douglas (Sheryl) Kredit of Kingsburg, CA; Curtis (fianc'e Linda) Kredit of Corsica, Kathy (Jack) Peterson of Tea, SD; and Thomas (Tracy) Kredit of Deadwood, SD. 7 greatgrandchildren: Matthew (Heather) Kredit, Susan (Thomas) Putzel, Joshua Kredit, Sheila Kredit, Jillian Peterson, Jayne (Todd) Leusink and Jodie Peterson. 2 step greatgrandchildren: Shannon and Shelby Krueger and 1 greatgrandson: Brett Putzel.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband John, daughter Doris Kredit and grandson Mark Bormann.

Hilda's 6 brothers Neil (Minnie), John (Bertha), James (Fredricka), Pete (Anna), Gerrit (Dena) and Herman (Charlene) Westra and 2 sisters Anna (Hans) Boer and Mattie (Harold) Schulz.

In-laws: Parents Frank and Trina Van Ekern, Katie (Jake) Schryvers, 2 brothers Henry (Margaret) and Richard (Fannie) VanEkeren.

Officiating: Rev. Josh Benton

Music: Helen Vander Wal, organist; Gordon Feenstra, soloist; Jeanne Noteboom, soloist

Casket Bearers: Douglas Kredit, Curtis Kredit, Thomas Kredit, Jack Peterson, Rod Westra, Ron Westra, Rolland Westra, Larry Westra, Allen Van Roekel, Mike Bures

Honorary Casket Bearers: Relatives & Friends