Debra Newhouse

Funeral services for Debra Newhouse of Hancock, Minnesota, will be held Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Hancock Christian Reformed Church with Reverend David Dick officiating.  Visitation will be Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris.  Burial will be at Lakeside Cemetery, Hancock.

Debra Joy Beekman, daughter of Merlyn and Helen (Zylstra) Beekman, was born August 27, 1966 in Willmar, Minnesota.  She was baptized at Bunde Christian Reformed Church by Reverend Raymond Graves and made her profession of faith there under Reverend John Vander Lugt. Debra grew up in Erickson Township, rural Sacred Heart, Minnesota.  She attended Central Minnesota Christian School in Prinsburg, Minnesota, graduating in 1984. She furthered her education at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan from 1984-1986.  She was united in marriage to Harrison Newhouse on January 2, 1986 at Sunshine Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, MI by Reverend Lew Vander Meer.  Following their marriage, Debra and Harrison moved to Orange City, IA while Harrison was at seminary.  The ministry took their family to several locations throughout Canada and the United States, until settling in Hancock in 2005. Debra was employed by Hancock Public School as a special education aide and bus driver. Debra received her Bachelor’s Degree in education at University of Minnesota Morris in 2009, and furthered her education receiving a Master’s degree in special education from St. Cloud State University in 2017.  Debra taught at Minnewaska Area Day Treatment, Glacial Hills Elementary School and Chokio Alberta Public Schools until her retirement last year.  Debra continued to live in Hancock until the time of her death.

Debra was a member of Hancock Christian Reformed Church, involved in church education, taught Sunday School and Kid Connection.  Debra was a gifted pianist and organist serving as a church musician since she was 14 years old.  She was also involved with Hancock Economic Development.  Debra will be remembered as being selfless, always doing everything she could to help others. She blessed everyone who knew her.

Debra passed away Sunday, September 18, 2022, at the age of 56, at Swift County Benson Health Services, after a courageous battle with cancer.

She is survived by her husband: Harrison of Hancock; six children: Christine (Wayne Manders) Morris of Andover, Joseph (Laura) Newhouse of Marshall, Jaclyn (Matthew) Swinney of Morris, Hannah (Jeff) Johnson of Alberta, James Newhouse of Hancock and Kathryn Newhouse of Alberta; ten grandchildren: Arianna Morris, Anderson Morris, Alexander Newhouse, Audrey Newhouse, Theodore Newhouse, Gregory Newhouse, Liam Swinney, Patrick Swinney, Kaedra Johnson and Teagan Johnson; her parents: Merlyn and Helen Beekman of Raymond; three sisters: Janel (Yancy) Evenson of Willmar, Aimee (Joel) TeBrake of Raymond and Tonya (Ross) Larson of Willmar; brothers and sisters-in-law: Curt (Linda) Veenstra of Zeeland, MI, John (Paula) Newhouse of Holland, MI, Grace Snikkers of Jenison, MI, William (Martha) Van Niejenhuis of Holland, MI and Richard (Emily) Newhouse of Holland, MI and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her son: Andrew Newhouse; daughter: Elizabeth Newhouse; parents-in-law: Harry and Jacoba Newhouse; maternal grandparents: Simon and Jennie Zylstra; paternal grandparents: Falko and Frances Beekman; sister-in-law: Ann Veenstra; brother-in-law: Johan Snikkers; maternal uncle: LeMar Van Heuvln; paternal aunt: Irma Beekman; niece: Anneke Marek and grand-niece: Myra Ahrenholz.

Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of the arrangements for Debra.