Funeral services for Berniece (Bee) Veldman, 84, of Hollandale will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Hollandale Reformed Church. The Rev. Ron Sikkema will officiate. Interment will be at Hollandale Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Berniece died Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009, at Albert Lea Medical Center.
Berniece (Bee) Veldman was born on July 12, 1924, to Bernard and Anna (Arends) Hammink in St. Paul. Bee attended school in Albert Lea and St. Paul graduating from St. Paul Central High School.
On March 7, 1944, Bee was united in marriage to Wilbur Veldman in Hollandale. The couple made their home in Hollandale where they owned and operated Veldman Equipment. Bee was a meticulous bookeeper in the business until her recent illness. She was a very active member of the Hollandale Reformed Church. She was active in the choir, women’s group and circle, bible study and Sunday school. Bee also volunteered with the Meals on Wheels in Hollandale and served as the Memorial Fund chairwoman for the Freeborn County Cancer Society for many years.
Bee loved to sing, not only in the choir, but also for years at numerous community and church events. She was an avid reader and enjoyed bridge club also. Bee was a trusted confidant of many and a faithful prayer warrior. Her greatest joys were her faith and family. She treasured the fun times spent at her lake home. Bee was dearly loved and will be deeply missed by many.
Survivors include her children: Patricia (Del) Bosacker, Rebecca (Paul) Melby, Michael (Deb) Veldman; daughter -in-law, Jeri Veldman; grandchildren: Annie Bosacker (Andrew Kass), Peter Bosacker, Julie (Troy) Polan, P. Eric (Julie) Melby, Dirk (Mandy) Melby, Joshua (Megan) Melby, Jacob (Sarah) Veldman, Ginny (Bryan) Seibert, Brock (Elizabeth) Veldman, Jamie (Karl) Hawkinson, Andrew Veldman and Marni Veldman; 12 great-grandchildren and one expected; sisters: Greta Johnson and Sandy (Dick) Sonterre; sisters-in-law: Kathleen Hammink, Sue Veldman and Marilyn Veldman; brother-in-law, Peter (Arlene) Veldman; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Bee was preceded in death by her parents; in-laws; husband, Wilbur Veldman; son, Scott Veldman; sisters: Jeanne (Ray) Anderson and Betty (Arie) Verdoorn; brothers: Norm Hammink and Jerry Hammink; in-laws: Op (Bertha) Veldman, William Veldman, Bert Veldman, Anna (Harley) Wagner and Ella (Dick) Hoogland.
Memorials are preferred to the Scott Veldman Memorial Scholarship Fund for Camp Friendship or to Hollandale Reformed Church.