Margaret Blok, 88, went to be with her Lord and Savior on June 9, 2018, at her home near Lynden.
Margaret was born on June 19, 1929, in Conrad, Montana, to John and Gertie (Griffioen) Van Dyke, the ninth of 11 children. On May 22, 1952, Margaret married Jacob Blok. They lived in Maryland and New York while Jake served in the U.S. Army. In 1953 they returned to Montana, where they were involved in wheat farming and later dairying. In 1961, after spending three months in California, they moved to Monroe, Washington, where they continued dairy farming. In 1972 they moved their family up to Lynden.
Throughout her life, Margaret was actively involved in farm life, getting up early to get the cows in, making huge meals for the farm help, and taking great pleasure in both her vegetable and flower gardens. She also delighted in hosting weekly Sunday afternoon tea time for her family. Her servant heart was evident in her years of service at the Monroe Christian School and at the churches she belonged to. Jake and Margaret were charter members of the Covenant Grace Reformed URC in Lynden. In their later years, Jake and Margaret enjoyed traveling around the country in their motorhome; yearly family camping trips to Leavenworth were a highlight for the entire family.
Margaret loved her Lord, her family and her calling as a wife, mother and grandmother. Her children and grandchildren are thankful to the Lord for her faithfulness and selflessness. Soli Deo Gloria!
Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Jake, in 2008, as well as seven of her siblings.
She is survived by her children Lee (Mili), Roger (Jackie), Marilyn (Frank De Vries), Ed (Denise), and Dale (Trischa), all of Lynden; 24 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren; siblings Nellie Vandenacre of Loveland, Colorado, Willis (Lillian) Van Dyke of Hudsonville, Michigan, and Gertrude Vandenacre of Lynden; sisters-in-law Annie Vandenend and Flora Blok, both of the Netherlands, and Matje Blok of St. Cloud, Manitoba.
Family and friends are invited to an open house celebrating Margaret’s life at 210 E. Wiser Lake Rd., Lynden, on Friday, June 15, beginning at 5 p.m. Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 16, in Greenwood Cemetery on East Wiser Lake Road, followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. in the Lynden United Reformed Church, 8650 Benson Rd.
Memorials in Margaret’s name may be made to Mid-America Reformed Seminary, 229 Seminary Drive, Dyer, IN 46311; Lynden Christian Schools, 417 Lyncs Drive, Lynden, WA 98264; or Ebenezer Christian School, 9390 Guide Meridian Rd., Lynden, WA 98264.
If you are unable to attend, there will be a livestream available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLAgfmD0ZdI.
Services are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Lynden.
