Dick Kooistra, age 86, of Sumas peacefully met his Lord and Savior in his sleep, early Saturday morning, December 30, 2006.
He was born on February 22, 1920 in Rinsumageest, The Netherlands, to Auke and Gelske (Wymenga) Kooistra. He married Alice Kingma on July 21, 1948. In February of 1949 they immigrated by boat to New York, on their way to new opportunities in Canada.
They settled in Milner, B.C., where Dick worked as a farm hand and they began their family, while together they adjusted to life in their new country. In April of 1960 the family immigrated to the United States where he continued working as a farm hand. In 1965 he bought his own herd and the family of 5 sons and 2 daughters made one final move to a farm of their own on the North Pass Rd in Sumas, where they have lived for over 40 years. Dick retired from farming in 1981 and was able to enjoy the things that gave him pleasure" his grandchildren, family, reading, music, gardening and being around the cattle on his farm.
He was a longtime member of Faith Christian Fellowship in Everson (formerly Everson CRC) and a strong supporter of the Lynden Christian Schools.
He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son and daughter, and a brother and sister in The Netherlands.
Dick is survived by Alice, his wife of 58 years; his children, August (Patricia) Kooistra of Ephrata, Louis (Evelyn) Kooistra of Bellingham, Ida (Larry) Van Andel of Lynden, Fred (Elaine) Kooistra of Everson, Marvin (Shannon) of Quincy, Ronald (Laura) Kooistra of Carnation and Carol (Matthew) Walton of Bridgewater, MA.; sixteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild; a brother and two sisters in The Netherlands, Rense Kooistra, Fokje Doornbos and Eke Dekker.
