Irene Lengkeek, age 91, of Volga, died Tuesday, August 26, 2008, at the United Retirement Center in Brookings, South Dakota. Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M. Saturday, August 30, 2008, at the Volga Christian Reformed Church, with interment in Trinity Cemetery. Visitations will be from 5-8 P.M. Friday at Eidsness Funeral Chapel in Volga.
Irene Gertrude (DeGroot) Lengkeek was born October 25, 1916, at Volga, South Dakota, to Fred and Agnes (DeVries) DeGroot. She grew up and attended schools in the Volga area, graduating from Volga High School in 1934. On June 1, 1939, she married Gerrit Lengkeek. The couple farmed, and Irene worked at the Volga Hospital for three years and as a night aide the Parkview Rest Home for 15 years. Gerrit died June 25, 2003.
Irene was a member of the Volga Christian Reformed Church and the Dorcas circle of ladies aid. She enjoyed quilting, reading, doing crossword puzzles, and following Sioux Valley sports, especially volleyball and basketball.
Survivors include six children: Gary (Nancy) Lengkeek of Flowery Branch, Georgia, Kathleen (Herman) Meenk of Lynden, Washington, Peggy (Jerry) Baas of Pease, Minnesota, Steven (Carol) Lengkeek of Wilmington, Delaware, Jonathan (Diane) Lengkeek of Volga, and Henry (Grace) Lengkeek of Lakewood, California; 20 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; and two sisters: Gertrude Roede of Oak Lawn, Illinois, and Agnes DeGroot of Crete, Illinois. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers: Fred, Ren, Bill, Leonard, Otto, Albert, and Donald; and sisters: Margaret, Leah, and Johanna.