Area Obituaries
Tillie Van Drongelen was born on June 7, 1943, to Henry and Sadie (Vander
Meulen) Poortinga in Friesland, Netherlands. Tillie immigrated with her family
from Holland at approximately four years old.
She married Clareon Van Drongelen in Lyndon, WA, on August 7, 1964. Together they had five children. They moved to the Corsica, SD area shortly after marriage and farmed most of their lives. Tillie was a member of the Harrison Community Church for many years.
Tillie’s love of gardening was apparent. She grew many different vegetables and always had “extra” to share with family and friends. She loved to tend to her many different flowers. Tillie enjoyed playing games, cards, putting puzzles together, and coloring. She enjoyed watching movies, listening to music and especially visiting with family and friends old and new. Tillie loved her children and grandchildren deeply. She was very proud of all of them.
Tillie passed away on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at her home in Armour, SD, at the age of 81.
Tillie is survived by four children, daughters: Sadie Monico and Sandy Van Drongelen, sons: Travis (Kellie) Van Drongelen and Jason Van Drongelen; grandchildren: Suzanne (Jason) Wantoch, Stacey Gorrell & Jesse Aikins, Allen Palmer, Kelsey Palmer & James Patrick and Alicia Monico; 14 great grandchildren: Matthew (Adrionna), Mason (Abby La Framboise) and Michael Wantoch, Nickay, Jace and Khloe Aikins, Aaron, Allison and Shannon Gorrell, Brody, Ryleigh and Joey Kunard; great-great grandchildren: Charlie and Violet Swanson and triplets due January 2025; sisters: Anne (Bruce) Taubenhium, Mary (Art) Doering, Sylvia (Jerry) Watson, and Sadie (Wayne) Cardin; stepsister Gerdine Morrison; brothers: Ed (Anita) Poortinga and Hank (Kathy) Poortinga; stepbrother Garry Van Dyken; and many nieces and nephews and families.
Tillie was preceded in death by her husband Clareon Van Drongelen, son John Van Drongelen, and grandson Nicholas Gorrell; her parents Henry and Sadie Poortinga, stepmother Dena Poortinga, sister Evelyn Heeringa, and brothers Toni Poortinga and John Poortinga.
Funeral services for Tillie Van Drongelen, age 81, of Armour, SD, will be held on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at 9:30 am at the Harrison Community Church in Harrison, SD. Burial to follow in the Harrison Cemetery. There is a prayer service on Friday evening at 7 pm at the church with a visitation from 5-7 pm.
