Geraldine Van Zee

Geraldine “Jerry” Jeanette Van Zee, 89, of Miller, passed away Sunday, May 10, 2020 at the Good Samaritan Society in Miller. Jerry spent Mother’s Day in Heaven. 

Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, a private family funeral service was held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at the St. Lawrence Community Church with Pastor Jim Hofman officiating. Private burial followed the funeral service at the St. Lawrence Cemetery.  A walk-through public visitation was held from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at Reck Funeral Home in Miller.

Geraldine “Jerry” Jeanette was born to Dorcie D and Nettie Marie (Carlson) Jenkins August 19, 1930 in Hand county. She attended school in Miller and was a proud member of the graduating class of 1948. Upon graduation, she moved to Pierre; while there in 1950 she met her “sister” Marlene Knudtson, who has been a constant blessing in her life.

On September 19, 1954 she married the love of her life, Kenneth Van Zee. They survived many ups and downs in their over 65 years of marriage. They started out their marriage on a farm south of St. Lawrence. From there they moved to Pierre for a few years before returning to the Van Zee farm east of St. Lawrence where they lived until they moved to Miller in 2006. To this blessed union two amazing children were born: Kenette Kay on November 18, 1959 and Dean Alan on March 30, 1964. This led to their five grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

Throughout her life she had various jobs. She worked at the Green Lantern restaurant, Fairmont Ice Cream store, the Department of Health and the auditor’s office in Pierre, REA, Miller Implement, Midwest Supply, Pump N Pak, and Hand in Hand Daycare.

For most of her married life, they lived and worked on the farm where they spent countless hours in the field and milking  cows. They happily retired from milking in 1996.

She was involved in a lot of clubs and organizations throughout her life. She became a member of the Community Church of St. Lawrence in 1955 where she taught VBS and Sunday School, participated in the Women’s Missionary Society, funeral committee, Bible studies and countless other groups.

Jerry moved into the Miller nursing home on March 28, 2017.  On the morning of May 10th, Jerry passed away to spend Mother's Day in Heaven with her mother.

Blessed to have shared her life are her husband, Kenneth of over 65 years; two children: Kenette (Rod) Rogers of Ree Heights and Dean (Sherrie) of St. Lawrence; grandchildren: Nathan Van Zee of Miller, Lucas (Kyra) Van Zee of Ellendale, North Dakota, Mitchell Van Zee of St. Lawrence, Erin (Zach) Sybesma of Ree Heights, and Samantha Rogers of Ree Heights; one great grandchild, Brooklyn Charlotte Van Zee of Ellendale, North Dakota; sister, Marlene Knudtson of Pierre, and her children, Shirlene (Dennis) Smook of Aberdeen and Bruce Knudtson of Custer.

She is preceded in death by her father, Dorcie on February 14, 1976, and her mother, Marie on November 7, 1995.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Jerry’s arrangements.