DeanAuralee "Dee" Kredit

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DeanAuralee (VanDyke) Kredit was born on July 28, 1932 as the first and only child of Elko and Henrietta (Dykhuis) VanDyke in Oak Park, Illinois. DeanAuralee (Dee) spent her childhood in Woodstock, IL then at age eight her parents moved to the Chicago area. Although she hated moving to a small apartment, she was able to play with all her cousins who became like siblings for her! Elko was a teacher at Chicago Christian High School where DeanAuralee, aka "Div" to her friends, was active in all things music – including a sextet of girls who remained lifetime friends. Dee followed in her father's footsteps by studying at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI, then her mother's footsteps by attending nursing school at St. Luke's in Chicago.
When Dee was 16 years old, her parents and Uncle Pete took her on a trip to Corsica, SD to visit relatives. On that trip Clara Kredit, Ken's mother, arranged for Ken to entertain Dee by taking her swimming at Corsica Lake on a hot day. The Kredits also had a spare room that was available for Dee to spend the night. Ken took her to the carnival that same evening, and in the years to follow this would always be the memory of their "first date".
Later, Ken visited relatives in Chicago with his parents, and also DeanAuralee, and their courtship began. Many letters and several years and visits later, Ken proposed. Dee said YES, but, because she was in nursing school, she needed to ask permission from the school to be married before her graduation. Ken was serving in the Air Force when they were married on December 22, 1953. Dee was finishing school, so they spent several months apart at the beginning of their marriage. They were stationed together in Biloxi, Mississippi then Topeka, Kansas where their first child, Karen, was born.
After Ken was discharged, Ken and Dee moved to Corsica, SD where Ken joined his father and brother Gordon in the Ford business. Dee worked as a nurse at the Armour hospital. While living there, daughter Lois was born. The family moved to Platte, SD in 1964 as the Kredit Ford Sales had a dealership in Platte. Their family was completed with another daughter Laura, and the beloved son, Roger.
In addition to being the mom of four children, Dee worked in many nursing roles within the Platte hospital system. Over the course of her professional life she worked as a floor nurse, nurse educator, childbirth instructor, and home health/hospice nurse coordinator. She was an active participant and leader with the American Cancer Society, and the South Dakota Nursing Association.
Dee was also involved in the church and community in many ways, including Young Calvinist youth trip chaperone, Ora Et Labora member, Calvinettes Counselor, Extension Club member, and Gideon's Auxiliary member to name a few.
Dee's passion in life was music! She sang in choruses, directed singing, played the organ in church, played and taught piano, and listened to several types of music. There were occasions where she was honored to be asked to direct the singing at the International Gideon Convention. She would play at any type of gathering that just "needed a few songs" at reunions, funerals, hymn sings or any time a song came to mind or a keyboard was nearby.
Another passion for Dee and Ken was their love of travel. Trips to Chicago, business trips, camping trips, family reunion trips, Ford conventions, Gideon conventions - it would be hard to estimate the number of miles Dee and Ken spent in their vehicles. Together they made their way to Canada, Europe, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and all fifty states as a couple.
A third passion for Dee was her love of water. She was an avid swimmer, enjoyed any pool, lake, river or hot tub she could find. She was a life guard and swim instructor and spent her Arizona winter years as an active water aerobics participant.
Dee had an amazing gift of hospitality that will be remembered by many. Dinners, picnics, waffles, tea times - there was always room for one more with a smile and hug included, especially if you were a visitor to morning service at Platte CRC. Games and laughter and spending time together were her great joys.
DeanAuralee (Dee) Kredit died peacefully in her sleep on October 8, 2024 in Urbandale, Iowa at the age of 92 years.
DeanAuralee is survived by her husband of 70 years Kenneth Earl; her four children and their spouses – Karen and Tim Schaid of Apple Valley, CA, Lois and Dale Leister of Fort Bragg, CA, Laura and Michael Meyer of Urbandale, IA, and Roger and Niki (Vermeer) Kredit of Sioux Center, IA; ten grandchildren - Kenneth (Sarah) Schaid, Phillip (Andrea) Schaid, Kimberly Schaid, Racheal Meyer (fiancé Josh Downey), Jennifer (Ben) Davis, Claire (Jonah) Vander Kooi, Isaac Kredit, Jeremiah Kredit, Precious Kredit and Josiah Kredit; one great-grandson Calvin Schaid who Dee "met" on her photo frame; brother-in-law Gordon (Mary Lou) Kredit; and several nieces and nephews.
DeanAuralee was preceded in death by her parents, Elko and Henrietta, step-mother Nelle, and sister-in-law Doris Kredit.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Platte Community Hospital, American Cancer Society, or Platte Christian Reformed Church.
Funeral services for DeanAuralee "Dee" Kredit, age 92, of Urbandale, IA, formerly of Platte, SD, will be held on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at 11:00 AM at the Christian Reformed Church, Platte, SD. Burial will take place at 2pm at the Harrison Cemetery, Harrison, SD. Visitation begins at 9:30 am at the Church.