Gertrude Overweg

Sioux Falls, SD: Gertrude Overweg, 92, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, passed away Friday, September 18, 2026, at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls. A funeral service will be held Friday, September 25, at 11:00 AM at Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley, Iowa with Pastor Justin Jenness of Good News Church officiating. The service will be livestreamed at https://www.porterfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/gertrude-overweg. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley. Following the burial, the family will greet friends during a luncheon at The Lunch House in Rock Valley.

   Gertrude Overweg, daughter of Jan “John” and Maria (Timmer) Van Olst, was born May 26, 1934, at Harderwijk, the Netherlands. Gert and her family immigrated from the Netherlands to Sheldon, Iowa in 1954. Gert met Dennis Overweg and the two began dating. In June 1955 the couple’s relationship went the long-distance route as Dennis was inducted into the United States Army during the Korean War. Three short months after Dennis’ honorable discharge and returning home, the couple was united in marriage at the Bethel Reformed Church in Sheldon on June 12, 1957. To this union three children were born, Rick, Robert, and Denise. The family eventually made their home in Rock Valley, Iowa until moving to Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1988.

   Gert was a tremendous homemaker and that care extended beyond her immediate family. For more than a decade, Gert and Dennis welcomed into their home and cared for children from Hope Haven. They treated these children as their own. Gert also was a longtime babysitter that many lovingly referred to as “Grandma Gert”.

   Gert loved to bake and nobody could do it quite like her, especially when it came to her sugar and chocolate chip cookies. She also enjoyed flowers and had a knack for deadheading, making sure the flowers stayed looking beautiful. Gert had a special bond with her sisters and their husbands and often on Saturday nights would get together for a “chip & dip” night and playing Rack-O.

   Gert is survived by her three children, Rick (Pam) Overweg of Rock Valley, Robert Overweg of Sioux Falls, and Denise (David) Ohling of Rock Rapids, Iowa; 6 grandchildren, Kent (Jennifer) Overweg, Jared (Sarah) Overweg, Brittany Overweg, Marcus (Cierra) Overweg, Josh (Laura) Ohling, and Alex Ohling; 15 great-grandchildren; brother, John Van Olst (Karmen Schoelerman); sisters, Lucy Ymker and Eileen De Jong; sister-in-law, Katie Van Olst; and brothers-in-law, John (Alma) Overweg and Darwin Kots.

   She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Maria; husband, Dennis; infant sister, Wympje Gertrude Van Olst; brother, Lambert (Kathleen) Van Olst; sisters, Maria (Daryl) Addink and Gerri (Raymond) Reinke; parents-in-law, John and Hattie Overweg; brothers-in-law, Fred Ymker, Charlie DeJong, and Don (Ethel) Overweg; and sisters-in-law, Marita (Van Olst) Rotella, Ann (John) Hilt, Harriet (John) Vande Kieft, and Marlene Kots.