Henrietta (Sterk VanderHeiden) Chitwood, age 94, of Lynden, passed away on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019.
She was born in Harrison, South Dakota, to parents John and Minnie (Plooster) Sterk. Henrietta enjoyed sewing and other arts and crafts, playing cards and games, visiting with friends and family, traveling, and cooking for family dinners. Henrietta was a sales clerk for JC Penney from 1961 until retirement in 1987.
She married Rean Vander Heiden on June 9, 1942, in Butte, Nebraska. They moved to Washington from South Dakota in 1943. Together they had four children: Clarence VanderHeiden-recently deceased, Marvin VanderHeiden (Maureen Johnson), Gary VanderHeiden (Kris VanZee) and Eileen VanderHeiden Harang (Gordon). She is also survived by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren and siblings Mike Sterk (Angie), Edith Porter, Joann VanderHeiden (Don) and Leona Kirwan. After Rean’s passing in 2000, she later met and married Daniel Chitwood on Sept. 10, 2004, in Lynden.
Henrietta was preceded in death by husbands Rean VanderHeiden in 2000 and Daniel Chitwood in 2013; son Clarence VanderHeiden in 2019; and siblings Peter, Jennie, Bob, Henry, John, Willis, Alvin and Ernest.
The family thanks the staff of the Christian Health Care Center for their kindness, care and compassion.
You are invited to join family and friends for visitation at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 11, in Gillies Funeral Home. Graveside will follow at 10 a.m. in Monumenta Cemetery, followed by an 11 a.m. memorial service in North County Christ the King Community Church.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
