Marilyn Hielkema

Marilyn Ann (Van De Riet) Hielkema, age 77, went peacefully home to her Lord and Savior on February 16, 2025 at Sterling Pointe in Princeton, Minnesota. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 11 AM at the Christian Reformed Church in Pease. Burial will follow at Pease Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9:30 – 11 AM at the church on Saturday.  Memorials are preferred to Avail Academy.

To livestream the service CLICK HERE

Marilyn was born on January 8, 1948 in Princeton to Wayne and Florence (Droogsma) Van De Riet. She attended Pease (Community) Christian School and Milaca High School, graduating in 1966. She attended Dordt College graduating with an elementary education degree. She began her teaching career in Memphis, Tennessee for 5 years, then returned to Minnesota to teach at Calvin Christian School (Avail Academy) in Edina. Later, she was the first teacher at the Blaine campus where her first-grade students loved her vibrant Bible stories, singing, ice cream outings, and big hugs. She was admired by all and retired in 2014 after 44 years of teaching. She will be remembered by so many for teaching others to love like Jesus.

She married Donald Hielkema, the love of her life, on June 25, 1988. They made their home in south Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park. They spent the last few years of their life at Sterling Pointe in Princeton. The family will be forever grateful for the wonderful care they received from the loving staff there. Don and Marilyn were active members of First Christian Reformed Church of Minneapolis and Faith Christian Reformed Church in New Brighton. They enjoyed the outdoors, traveling, playing games, and spending time with friends and family.

She is survived by her dear siblings Phil Van De Riet, Lois (Dick) Ritzema, Lynn (Bob) Swanson, sister-in-law Carol Van De Riet, brothers-in-law Roger (Hazel) and Ken (Gladys) Hielkema; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends around the country. Although Don and Marilyn had no children, they loved their nieces, nephews, and so many more young people as their own.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband Don, her parents Wayne and Florence (Droogsma) Van De Riet and her brothers Wes and Bob Van De Riet.