Claribel DeVries

Claribel DeVries, age 98, of Buffalo Center, was called to her heavenly home at the Timely Mission Nursing Home on Sunday, September 20, 2020. A private family graveside funeral service will be held at 11a.m. on Saturday, September 26, at Graceland Cemetery in Buffalo Center. Graveside service will be live streamed on Oakcrest Funeral Services’ Facebook page.

Claribel was born August 19, 1922 in Woden, the daughter of Edward and Katherine (Barth) Wood. She spent her childhood in rural Woden and Buffalo Center, graduating Salutatorian from Buffalo Center Consolidated High School in 1940. She married high school sweetheart John “Jack” DeVries on Sunday morning June 23, 1940 at nine o’clock at the Methodist parsonage in Blue Earth, MN. Rev. Reed performed the ceremony setting the stage for a family life built on love and devotion in Buffalo Center.

Throughout her life Claribel’s top priority and greatest joy was her family, especially supporting Jack. She kept the books and served many other roles for the DeVries Auction Company. She loved every opportunity to spend time with her children and grandchildren, her brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews. She and Jack enjoyed traveling to visit family whenever possible. The source of Claribel’s strength was her faith in Jesus Christ as her loving Lord and Savior. That faith guided and directed her life.

Claribel enjoyed playing the piano and organ and accompanying Jack when he sang at church. She enjoyed gardening and teaching etiquette during meals to her grandchildren with her “manners pig”. (Never forget to say “please” pass the food or you will end up with the pig in front of you.) She proved over and over again that she was a champion speller even into her ‘90s. She made a birthday cake for Jesus every Christmas and enjoyed a good laugh when people would ask whose birthday it was. Claribel liked playing cards and teaching her grandchildren how to play (and sometimes cheat). She was a good hostess, making everyone feel comfortable and welcomed. She had a good sense of humor, was persistent and strong-willed, and enjoyed hard work, crossword puzzles, and long walks in summer or winter, Jeopardy, watching sports, and making sugar cookies so thin you could almost see through them.

Left to cherish her memory are her children: Chuck DeVries and his wife Diane of Golden Valley, MN, daughter-in-law, Jeanne DeVries of Erie, CO; Doug DeVries and his wife Jane of Johnston; many beloved grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and other relatives and friends.

Besides her husband Jack, Claribel was preceded in death by infant daughter, Katherine Gayle DeVries; son, John Donald DeVries, Jr.; daughter-in-law, Patricia (Downs) DeVries; son, Roy Thomas DeVries and brothers: William, John, Elmer and Melvin, and sisters: Ruby Godfredson and Irene Kuchenreuther.

In lieu of flowers, the family would request that donations be made to Wycliffe Bible Translators, First Baptist Church in Buffalo Center or Timely Mission Nursing Home in Buffalo Center in Claribel’s name.

Oakcrest Funeral Services in Buffalo Center is assisting the family. To leave an online condolence, visit www.oakcrestfuneralservices.com