Ruth Tiersma

Ruth Tiersma ObituaryObituary published on Legacy.com by Gillies Funeral Home & Cremation Services - Lynden on Mar. 17, 2026.Ruth (Roelofje) Brouwer Tiersma of Lynden passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on March 10, with members of her family by her side. Ruth was 95 years old.She was born May 30, 1930, to Jan and Lipkje (DeVries) Brouwer on a dairy farm in Boornzwaag, Joure, Friesland, in the Netherlands. One of sixteen siblings, "Roelie", as they called her, lived through the turbulence and deprivation of World War 2, and was especially bonded to her family after the death of their mother.Ruth immigrated in 1952 to Bellflower, California, where she joined her fiancé Auke (Arnold) Tiersma, and on August 1st of that year they were married. In 1956, Arnold and Ruth moved their growing family to Custer where they bought a dairy farm and became part of the thriving Dutch farming community.After three decades of farming, they sold the farm to their son Bernie, and retired to enjoy family and friends. Ruth was active with the Ebenezer Christian School Mother's Club and used her skills as a knitter to make hats, mittens, and slippers for various charitable groups. She and Arnold also took an annual winter break to son Peter and his family's vacation home in Mexico and enjoyed reunions in California, Friesland and Brazil.Arnold passed away in 2003. Ruth continued her travels, often with her sisters. She loved puzzles and playing cards, dice, board games with friends and family. Her later years were busy with friends from church, volunteering, and the Meadow Greens retirement home in Lynden. She was an active, sharp lady until the very end.Ruth was preceded in death by Arnold, and her daughter Linda Tiersma Sample. She is survived by sons Peter (Jeanne Koruga), John (Cassandra), Andrew, Bernie (Kathy), Beatrice (Butch), as well as the numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren who called her Beppe. She will be especially missed by her beloved sisters in Vancouver and Lynden, Ann (John) Vanderleest, Sjouke (Pete) Noah, Elly (Leornard), and her siblings in Holland.A memorial will be held at Bethel Christian Church in Lynden, 1pm, March 21st. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Ebenezer Christian School. 9390 Guide Meridian Rd, Lynden, WA 98264.Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services.To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.