Edna Jean Kooi Westra

Westra Edna Jean Kooi Westra, 88, of Duluth, formerly of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, died Thursday, January 31, 2002, in Lake Haven Manor. She has been a Duluth resident for the past two years, living at Pines III. She was born on January 4, 1914 in Morrison, Illinois to Robert and Ethel Kooi. She graduated from Fulton, Illinois High School and attended Central College in Pella, Iowa. In 1938, she married Rev. Peter J. Westra in Pottersville, New Jersey. She taught in rural schools in Fulton and elementary schools in Flandreau and Sioux Falls, South Dakota and in Jefferson and Des Moines, Iowa. She loved to teach and instilled in her children a love of reading, learning and working hard to achieve goals in life. She enjoyed china painting and reading novels. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She served as a minister's wife and partner in St. Johnsville, New York; Hammond, Indiana; Lewisburg, Pennsylvania; Flandreau, South Dakota; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Des Moines, Iowa; Jefferson, Iowa and at the Good Life Retirement Village in Mesa, Arizona. She was preceded in death by her husband, Peter, in 1996; a son, Dr. John Westra in 1980 and a grandson, Peter Mark Westra, 2001. She is survived by a son, Mark (Mary) Westra of White Bear Lake, Minn; two daughters, Donna Paige of Casper, Wyoming and Dr. Ruth Westra of Duluth; nine grandchildren; a brother, Earl Kooi of Upland, Calif. Services will be held in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with burial in Hope Cemetery, Hull, Iowa. Memorials to the First Presbyterian Church Sunday School Program in Sioux Falls would be appreciated. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 PM Monday at the Miller Funeral Home in Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral service will be 10:30 AM Tues at First Presbyterian Church in Sioux Falls.

Published on February 3, 2002