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DeVries went to be with the Lord on March 19, 2014, surrounded by his loving family, at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He was born May 21, 1929 to Arie and Marie (Hoekman) DeVries on a farm near Corsica, South Dakota.
At the age of 16 he had a ruptured appendix, and was afraid that if he died, he would be lost. So he “joined a Church”, but that made no difference in his life. Quite a few years later he received Christ as his Savior, and enjoyed talking to people about his and their relationship with Jesus Christ. He also enjoyed emailing friends and relatives. In one email he said, “If you’re not 100% sure that you are going to Heaven when you die, it’s 100% sure that you are not, because trusting Jesus Christ 99% and yourself 1% will not cut it”.
He also enjoyed emailing jokes, and one time quoted a Preacher who had said, “If you don’t think God has a sense of humor, check a mirror first chance you get”.
In 1973 he married Jean Dietz, and they enjoyed farming together for many years. In 1998 they quit farming and moved to Mitchell, South Dakota. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and shopping with his wife Jean.
His favorite Bible verse was, “For it is by grace you are saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the Gift of God, not by works, lest anyone should boast”.
Some of his favorite songs were; “There is Power in the Blood”, “Room at the Cross”, “Kneel at the Cross”, “No one Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus”, “He Giveth More Grace”, “I Shall Know Him” (My Savior first of all), “Some Day That Silver Cord Will Break”, “What a Day That Will Be”, “Safe in the Arms Of Jesus”, “Meet Me There”, “Shall We Gather at the River”, and “In the Sweet Bye and Bye”.
He is survived by his precious wife Jean; his daughter, Valerie (Jim) Benny; his son, Van (Lisa) DeVries, three grandchildren, Chris DeVries, Ben (Charity) DeVries, and Heather DeVries; and many wonderful relatives and friends in Oakes, ND and elsewhere. He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Maurine, four brothers, Marvin, Vernon, Rowlyn, and Lowell, two brothers-in-law, Vernon Dietz and David Dietz, and one sister-in-law, Betty DeVries.
Visitation will be held on Friday, March 21, 2014 starting at 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service to follow at 7:30 p.m. at the Oakes Church of the Nazarene. The celebration of his homecoming will be Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at the Oakes Church of the Nazarene, with Jerry V. Dietz officiating. Burial will be at the Oakes View Cemetery. An on-line guestbook may be signed at www.dahlstromfuneralhome.com