Reka Nienhuis, 92, longtime resident of Oak Harbor, died March 7, 2005 at Whidbey General Hospital.

Mrs. Nienhuis was born in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, Aug. 25, 1912, to Hendrik Hilberdink and Johanna (Balster) Hilberdink. As a child she moved with her family to Oak Harbor, where she graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 1932. Reka married Allen Nienhuis Nov. 3, 1932 in Oak Harbor.

She was employed at Producers Co-op in the yardage section, and then Pioneer Department Store, before opening Reka’s Yardage, which she operated for a number of years. She later worked for Sebo’s Ben Franklin and finally Sprouse-Reitz. Reka was a member of First Reformed Church. She enjoyed gardening and painting. She especially loved her children and grandchildren and their families.

Reka is survived by her daughter Jeannine Peterson of Oak Harbor; her son Lanny Nienhuis and wife Diane, of Oak Harbor; five grandchildren, Gail Nalley and husband Kelly of Moses Lake, Darren Nienhuis of Charleston, S.C., Lori Sprouse and husband Michael of Edmonds, Bill Nienhuis and wife Melissa of Lynden and David Nienhuis and wife Teresa Osborn-Nienhuis of Seattle; 10 great-grandchildren, Jeannine Parker, David and Jennifer Nalley, Danica and Ryan Sprouse, Walter, Lillian, Conrad and Abraham Nienhuis and Caedmon Osborn Nienhuis; one great-great-grandson, David Allen Parker; and one sister, Ada Gordon of Oak Harbor. Reka was preceded in death by her husband, Allen, in 1949; by one son, Henry in 1997 and by one grandson, Leonard in 1998, as well as by several siblings.

A graveside service will be Thursday, March 10, at 1 p.m. at Maple Leaf Cemetery, followed by a memorial service at First Reformed Church at 2 p.m., Pastor Jon Brown officiating. Memorials may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 1234, Anacortes, WA 98221, or to the Nancy Garden Scholarship Fund at Oak Harbor Christian School.

Arrangements under direction of Burley Funeral Chapel.