Dora Jansen (Baarda) van Beek

A Celebration of Life Service for Dora will be held at 10 AM on Thursday, July 1, 2021 at the Nampa First Church of the Nazarene Family Life Center, 601 16th Ave. So. A private burial took place at the Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, Caldwell. Services are under the direction of the Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel, 415 12th Ave. So. - 208-442-8171.

Dora Jansen van Beek went to be with her Lord and Savior on June 14th, 2021.  Dora was born February 5, 1928, in Heidenskip, The Netherlands, to Dave and Celia Baarda. 

Before the age of 2, Dora and her parents immigrated from Holland to California.  Dora’s mother had a couple of brothers that had already immigrated to America, and they had encouraged her parents to join them. Dora loved living near her aunts and uncles and had a special relationships with them and her cousins.

After settling in California, the Baardas had four more children. 

Dora loved school and desired to be a teacher.  Thus, after graduating from Bellflower Christian School in 1945 with World War II still going on,  she did the unthinkable and went to college.  Dora wanted to attend her church college, Central College , in Pella, Iowa.  Dora traveled by bus to Iowa and was told not to call home.  Her dad said  “phones were for business”.  

Thus, Dora’s talent for writing letters began.  Not only did she write them, but her mother would write a letter to her every Sunday.  She also liked receiving letters from her beloved aunts in California. 

After graduating from college in 1949, Dora returned to California, bought a car, and taught third grade at Bellflower Christian.

Evert Jansen van Beek spotted Dora singing in the choir at church.  He was interested in this school teacher, but knew she had a boyfriend.  However, while attending a church picnic on the 4th of July, Dora smiled at Evert and gave him the “green light”. The next Sunday he worked up the courage to approach Dora and her mother and asked Dora on a date.  Dora had no interest in dating a “green Dutchman”, but Evert was “different”.

They were married on June 20th 1952.  They had their first child Celia in 1953 and moved to Idaho in 1954 before Wilma was born.  They rented a farm and bought cows to start their herd.

Over the next 20 years, Dora and Evert welcomed 7 more children into their family (the last three were called the “bonus babies”).

In 1960, they realized their dream of owning their own house and dairy farm.  Dora was a busy lady being a wife, mother of nine kids, and the chief calf feeder for over 40 years.  

Dora made it a priority to start her day out with the Lord.  If “she was right with the Lord, she could be right with Dad and the kids.”  Even in the last days of her life, she was reading her devotions and jotting down notes in the margins. She was committed to teaching and learning, and she loved singing the hymns. 

Starting in 1958, Dora and Evert attended Franklin Community Church.  For many years, Dora taught Vacation Bible School.  Dora also was active in Bible Study Fellowship from 1975 until 2020.  Dora was honored to serve as the children’s director for the Caldwell BSF class for decades.  Besides her love for God’s Word, Dora cherished the many friendships that were made with the women and children of BSF. She especially loved taking her grandchildren to BSF and in later years, attending BSF with her youngest daughter Melody. 

Dora enjoyed her kids, grandkids and great grandchildren, and she always enjoyed meeting new people.

Dora is survived by her 9 children and their spouses, 15 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

Celia (John) Thomas, Wilma (Neil) Green, Nellie Jansen van Beek, Jeanette Kroes, John (Julie) Jansen van Beek, Dale (Leslie) Jansen van Beek, Julie (Randy) Heisey, Doreen (Rick) Fouts, and Melody Jansen van Beek; her brother, Pete Baarda as well as nieces and nephews in California; sister in laws, Jeltje Jansen van Beek,  Nampa and Corry Scheperboer and Willy ten Bosch, in  the Netherlands as well as many nieces and nephews. Dora was preceeded in death by her son-in-law, Marvin Kroes, 3 sisters, Grace Saarloos, Martha Twamly and Okke Baarda.

Special thanks to Pastor Richard and Tamee  Mark  for their love and care as well the Franklin Community Church for their friendship and support over 60 plus years.

A final thanks to all the “Dutchies” and their families for lifelong friendships.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Nampa Christian Schools Scholarship Fund, 11920 W. Flamingo Ave., Nampa, ID 83651 or Because International, 1415 1st St. So., Nampa, ID 83651.

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