Mina Nelvina Goodyear, daughter of Lucas and Gertrude (DeWeerd) Rons, was born November 8, 1917 in
Sioux Center
,
Iowa
. She was one of eight children and grew up on a farm near
Boyden
,
Iowa
. She was baptized in the First Reformed Church and attended school in Boyden. As young women, she worked candling eggs for three years at the Produce. On February 2, 1944, she married John W. Saarloos, a sergeant in the U.S. Army. They were married only four months when he was killed at
Normandy
Beach
(June 12, 1944) in the invasion of
France
. Mina met Lloyd Goodyear (son of Elmer and Dora Goodyear), after the end of World War II. He also served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army. They were united in marriage on October 10, 1946.
Mina and Lloyd Goodyear moved from
Iowa
to a farm near
Starbuck
,
Minnesota
in January, 1953, where they farmed until 1966. They sold the farm in 1968 and moved to a home in Lowry. Mina studied Nursing Assistant training at
Alexandria
Evening
School
and completed her training on November 20, 1967. She began working as a nursing assistant at the Minnewaska Lutheran Home in Starbuck in March, 1968 and continued to work there for sixteen years. After retiring in 1984, she sold her home in Lowry and moved to
Sanborn
,
Iowa
. She returned to Starbuck in 1985 and lived at the Manor Apartments for 20 years. Mina continued to volunteer at the Minnewaska Home Auxiliary for many years and was an avid Minnesota Twins fan.
Mina was a member of
Indherred
Lutheran
Church
of rural Starbuck
Mina died on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at the
Stevens
Community
Medical
Center
in
Morris
,
MN
, having lived to reach the age of 92 years.
Mina is survived by one daughter: Sharon Goodyear of
Woodbury
,
MN
; sister: Alma Rons Donkersloot of
Sanborn
,
Iowa
; sisters-in-law: Darlene (
Arnold
) Femrite of Starbuck and Delores (Paul) Billehus of Starbuck; brother-in-law: LaVern Goodyear of Starbuck and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd Goodyear; an infant son; her parents: Lucas and Gertrude Rons; first husband: John Saarloos; five brother: Peter, Albert, Edward, Louis and William and a sister: Jeanette.
Pallbearers for the service are: Mike Billehus, Mark Billehus, Mark Donkersloot, Brad Peterson, Don Peterson and mark Schumann. Amy VanZee will serve as organist for the service with Leanne Cline and Rhonda Rosenbaum will provide special music. Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck is in charge of the arrangements.
