VerLee (Ketel) Meenk passed away on September 3, 2026. She was born during a blizzard in the small town of Bigelow, Minnesota on December 16, 1927. She joined her father John G. and mother Jacoba (Duim) Ketel, sister Gladys, and brother Wendell.

She had a happy childhood, most of which was spent on a farm.

She moved to Lynden with her parents in 1946. She loathed to leave Minnesota, but the people of Lynden were so welcoming it became her “ideal home”.

She met and married Allen E. Meenk at First Reformed Church in 1948. He preceded her in death in 2015. She was also preceded by her parents, one sister, two brothers, an infant son Russell, and daughter-in-law Amy Meenk.

She leaves to survive her children John (Johanna), Marilyn (Randy) Dingman, Laura, Cynthia (Frank) Haehnel, Christine (Cyrus) Smith, and James (Ellie); eleven grandchildren and nineteen great grandchildren.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  I Corinthians 15:55-57

A private graveside service was held Wednesday September 9th.