Funeral services for Polly VanderVorst, 76, of Akaska, SD will be Saturday at 10:00 AM at the Family Worship Center in Mobridge. Rev. Paul Hathaway officiating. Burial will be in the West Field Cemetery in West Field, North Dakota under the direction of Kesling funeral Home of Mobridge. A prayer service will be held Friday evening at 7:00 PM at the Family Worship Center. Visitation will begin at 5:00 PM on Friday at the Church. Mrs. VanderVorst passed away Tuesday, November 1, 2016 at Sanford Medical Center in Bismarck.

Polly Ann VanderVorst was born on September 2, 1940 to Ed and Pauline (Looyenga) VanVugt at their home in Westfield, North Dakota. She grew up in the Westfield area and attended the Bakker rural school near Westfield and high school in Strasburg, ND. On November 6, 1957 She married Dale VanderVorst at Westfield. Following their marriage, they made their home at Strasburg, ND for a short time where Dale taught school and farmed. Later they moved to a farm near Mound City, SD and they also farmed and ranched in the Wakpala and Trail City area's also.

While living on the ranch at Wakpala both Polly and Dale came to know the lord as their savior and their life's journey with a personal relationship with the Lord began. Together they made the choice to serve the Lord in greater ways and in 1969 they moved to Saskatchewan, Canada and Dale attended the Miller Memorial Bible Institute. Following this the family moved to Libby, Montana and Dale served as a pastor there. In 1973 they returned to SD and re-engaged in farming and ranching the remainder of their life.

Throughout her life Polly lead many bible studies. Dale made the comment that when Polly got home the car didn't even cool off before she left for the next one. Polly was also a part of the Christian Woman's Ministry and traveled throughout SD, WY, MT, MN and ND speaking at different events. Polly's family and her relationship with her Lord were first and foremost in her life. She was a spiritual mother to many who gave sound advice to those in need and always guided them back to the word of God.

Polly also loved and wrote cowboy poetry. She had a great memory and could recite so many of her poems from heart. She was also known to pull a prank or two on anybody for a chuckle and her grand kids were not off limits to that. When Polly was about 65, her husband Dale had a severe brain injury from a horse accident and because of this accident Polly studied and received her GED so that she could substitute teach in Timber Lake to help support the family while Dale was recovering. Polly always did what was necessary no matter what was needed.

She is survived by her husband, Dale of Akaska, SD, sons, Lonnie (Lucille) of Akaska, SD, Tim (Ida) of Mound City, SD, and Todd (Cathy) of Mountain Home, ID, daughter, Bunny (Dan) Bothwell, of Aladdin, WY, grandchildren, Levi, Tye, Joseph, and Wyatt VanderVorst, Ashley Hammond, Kody and Kirby Johnson, Sarah Walton, Anakija Fostvedt, Jessica, Rebecca, Katrina, Grace, Amos, Micah, Daniel and Faith VanderVorst, five great grandchildren, brothers Gerrit (Anita) VanVugt of Mobridge, SD, Leroy (Velma) VanVugt of Omaha, Neb., sisters, Tillie (Gordon) Ryckman of West Field, ND, Linda (Jerome) Pool of West Field, ND, and Marge VanVugt of Mobridge, SD.

She was preceded in death by son, dean in 1977, her parents, and one brother, Bobby VanVugt.