Alyda Mulder

Longtime Sumas resident, Alyda Mulder, went home to her Heavenly Father on Friday, November 11, 2011 at the age of 87. The daughter of Engelbert and Johanna (Kraayenbrink) Kaemingk, she was born July 17, 1924 in Sanborn, Iowa. After high school, she attended and graduated from Reformed Bible Institute in Chicago then followed her family to the Lynden area in the mid 1940�s. On Oct. 8, 1948 she was married to Alvin Mulder in Lynden. While raising their family and dairy farming on Halverstick Road in Sumas, Alyda also returned to college and obtained her bachelor�s degree in education in 1970 from Western Washington State College. She taught elementary school at Lynden Christian Schools until her retirement in 1989. After retirement she and Alvin travelled extensively with friends throughout the United States and Canada. As a longtime member of Sumas Christian Reformed Church, she actively volunteered there in many capacities as well as tutoring English and substitute teaching. Alyda was an avid reader and also loved to crochet. A gracious lady of quiet dignity, she was beloved by all and especially endeared to her family. Preceded in death by her beloved husband, Alvin in 2007; daughter Glenda Mulder in 1979; infant granddaughter Heather Mullenix in 1974 and great-granddaughter Tylee Altona in 2003, siblings Mary (Paul) Buys, Ted (Jennie) Kaemingk and Betty (Frank) Nagy. Alyda is survived by children Joanne (Mike) Forthun, Butch (Joyce) Mulder, Betsy (Darrel) Van Weerdhuizen and Edith (Terry) Burke; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; siblings Henry (Marie) Kaemingk, Elmer (the late Hess) Kaemingk, Jim (Betty) Kaemingk, Frank (Joy) Kaemingk and Jo (the late Pete) Bootsma; sisters-in-law Hilda (the late Tom) Kornelis, Marian (the late Mick) Stremler and Gladys (Marion) Haveman; numerous other relatives. Visitation hours are scheduled for Wed., Nov. 16, 4 to 7 pm at Gillies Funeral Home. Graveside services will be conducted Thursday, Nov. 17, 1:00 pm at Monumenta Cemetery followed by a 2 pm memorial service at Sumas Christian Reformed Church, 700 Sumas Avenue, in Sumas. Memorials in Alyda�s name may be made to: Lynden Christian Schools, 417 Lyncs Dr., Lynden, WA 98264.