Bert Den Herder lived a good and godly life. One church he served described his life as bearing witness to Psalm 1—like a tree planted by a stream of living water and bearing green leaves and yielding fruit in its season. Den Herder died on June 30 at the age of 94.
After attending Calvin College and graduating from Calvin Seminary in 1955, Den Herder served the following Christian Reformed churches in Canada: Bethel, Lacombe, Alta.; Nelson Avenue Community, Burnaby, B.C.; Agassiz, B.C.; and Cornerstone, Chilliwack, B.C.
After moving back to the U.S., he pastored Luverne (Minn.) CRC and Kanawha (Iowa) CRC, from which he retired in 1989. The Den Herders settled in Luverne, where he continued to remain active in local church life.
Den Herder enjoyed reading, playing Scrabble, gardening, and canning its produce together with his wife. When he could no longer garden, he enjoyed overseeing the gardens of his children. He wasn't much for small talk but liked to engage people in theological conversation.
During the last three years as a resident of Edgebrook Care Center, a nursing home in Edgerton, Minn., Den Herder continued to use his gifts to share God’s Word. He was active in men's Bible study and occasionally led it as well as worship services. Praying and reading Scripture with families whose loved ones in the home were sick or dying made his time there meaningful for him.
Den Herder was predeceased by his wife, Clara, in 2014. He was also predeceased by a great-granddaughter and a son-in-law. He will be lovingly remembered by his six children, 17 grandchildren, and 36 great-grandchildren.
About the Author
A former nurse and chaplain, Janet Greidanus is a freelance news correspondent and long-time writer of the In Memoriam column for The Banner.
