Margaret Elizabeth (te Velde) Houtsma

April 26, 2021

Margaret Elizabeth (te Velde) Houtsma, age 81, of Syracuse, Kansas went home to Jesus on Monday, April 19, 2021.   Margaret was born on July 8, 1939 in Artesia, CA.  She was the first of nine children born to Harm and Zwaantina (Deurwaarder) teVelde.  Margaret grew up in a dairy farm family that was active in church, Christian school, and community affairs.  She graduated from Bellflower Christian High School in 1957 and furthered her education at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI and Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX. 

Margaret married Algene Houtsma, a dairy farmer, on October 3rd, 1958.  By 1970 Margaret and Al had been blessed with five daughters and one son, Debbie Houtsma, Jana (Kyle) Reed, Marleen (Wade) English, Jay (Meghan) Houtsma, Krista Houtsma and Karin (Dan) Kullot. The family made their home in Spanaway, WA before moving to Stephenville, TX in 1979. In 2016, Margaret moved to Syracuse, Kansas to be near her children.   

Margaret’s 16th grandchild, Ethan Houtsma, was born on a special day in 2011.  Today Margaret and Al have 13 grandsons and 3 granddaughters, Aaron Houtsma; Kathryn and Conor Reed; Brandon (Kelci) English, Dexter (Brandee) English and Casey (Kylee) English; Juliana Houtsma, Nicolaas (Luly) Houtsma, Alexander and Ethan Houtsma; Mitchell and Matthew Pack; Ira, Will, Carly and Aidan Kullot.   Margaret’s first great grandchild Brylee English was born in 2019 and her second, Wrenley English, will be arriving soon.

Margaret will be remembered by her children as an extraordinary mother and homemaker.  She delighted in her morning devotionals and cherished the time spent studying the Bible each day.   She was enthusiastic about the piano and was a church organist most of her life.   She took great pleasure in giving lessons to children when she was younger and, in recent years, found a renewed vigor in playing her own piano, as well as Meghan’s.  Her gorgeous Texas yard was a testament to her talents as a gardener and she found contentment in her colorful plants and birds there. Margaret also enjoyed church activities, travel, walking, yoga, bowling, her Mary Kay business and, most of all, her family and friends.  She spent much time writing amusing, affectionate and clever notes, cards and letters to her loved ones and truly rejoiced in their company.

In 2002, Margaret wrote “The fingerprints of God put on me in my formative years by home, school and church have blossomed.  It is a blessing and a comfort to know that whate’er I do, where’er I be, still ‘tis God’s hand that leadeth me.  Ps 23.   May I always be His faithful follower.  MH”.   God’s Word was a lamp to her feet and a light for her path.  Ps 119:105.

Margaret joins her parents, Harm and Swannie, and brothers Harry, Ralph and John te Velde in heaven.   She is survived by her children; grandchildren, great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews; sisters, Shirley (Jack) DeGroot, Grace (David) Kreulen, Betty (Herb) Reinders, Harriet (Ralph) Hill; brother, Marvin (Sandy) te Velde; sisters-in-law, Sheryll (John) te Velde and Bonnie (Ralph) te Velde; and Al Houtsma. 

Funeral Service will be held on April 30, 2021 at 10:30am (MDT) at the First Presbyterian Church in Syracuse, Kansas. Burial will follow in the Syracuse Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Thursday, April 29th, 2021 from 4:00pm to 6:30pm MDT at the First Presbyterian Church, 302 E Avenue F, Syracuse, KS.

Condolences may be sent to fellersfh@yahoo.com.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be payable to The Artevel Foundation and sent in care of Fellers Funeral Home & Monuments, LLC, PO Box 1253, Syracuse, KS 67878. (620) 384-5100.  The Artevel Foundation is a charitable (501c3) organization that was founded by Margaret’s parents to promote Christian outreach and education, on which Margaret served faithfully for over 50 years.