Dirk Flietstra Collection, 1913-1948 | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

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Collection Overview

Title: Dirk Flietstra Collection, 1913-1948

ID: COLL/085

Primary Creator: Dirk Flietstra (1884-1966)

Extent: 1.0 Box. More info below.

Arrangement: Folder level description

Subjects: Summitview Christian Reformed Church (Yakima, Wash.), Sunnyside Christian Reformed Church (Sunnyside, Wash.), Women - Suffrage - Religious aspects, Zillah Christian Reformed Church (Zillah, Wash.)

Abstract

Minister of the Christian Reformed Church. The collection includes sermons, correspondence, reports to Classis Pella dealing with women voting at congregational meetings; and historical accounts of the Christian Reformed Churches at Yakima, Zillah, and Sunnyside, Washington; plus reports published in De Wachter and The Banner on Pella, Iowa; Ripon, California; and South Dakota areas.

Biographical Note

Dirk Flietstra was born in the northern city of Harlingen in the Netherlands on April 6, 1884. In 1905, Flietstra immigrated to the United States. Flietstra settled and worked in the farming lands of Pella, Iowa and Manhattan, Montana. While in Montana, Flietstra attended the church of Rev. James J. Holwerda. It was there that Flietstra made his confession of faith and felt the call of ministry himself. Flietstra enrolled as a seminary student at Calvin and completed his studies in 1918. Same year he graduated, Flietstra became ordained in Moline, Michigan and married Johanna Miedema. Together they had five children.

After serving the congregation of Moline, Flietstra accepted the call from Allen Avenue in Muskegon, Michigan in 1923 and they moved on to Platee, South Dakota. In South Dakota, the Flietstra family suffered through drought, locust, dust, and the Great Depression. In 1938, Flietstra once again received the call of a congregation in need of his ministry, this time in Leighton, Iowa. While in Leighton, Flietstra loss his wife Johanna. Flietstra was remarried to Agnes Tolsma. Together they had another eight children.

The last congregation Flietstra served was in Zillah, Washington. He started in 1944 and served the Zillah community until his retirement in 1950. After suffering from two strokes, Fliestra passed away in Artesia, California on October 29, 1966.

Subject/Index Terms

Summitview Christian Reformed Church (Yakima, Wash.)
Sunnyside Christian Reformed Church (Sunnyside, Wash.)
Women - Suffrage - Religious aspects
Zillah Christian Reformed Church (Zillah, Wash.)

Administrative Information

Repository: Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

Alternate Extent Statement: 0.25 cubic ft.

Acquisition Source: Gift of D. Flietstra

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Sermons and Reports, 1913-1948],
[All]

Series 1: Sermons and Reports --- 1913-1948

Box 1

Folder 1: Classis Pella Papers: Women voting at congregational meetings and marriage to avowed infidels
Folder 2: Correspondence. One letter to a Ladies' Aid in response to a critical note --- 1938-1948
Folder 3: Reports in De Wachter and in The Banner on areas served: Pella, Iowa; Ripon, California; and South Dakota. Press clippings and typed material --- 1913-1948
Folder 4: Sermons (8) --- 1939,1941, and undated: Dutch and English
Folder 5: Sermon on Psalm 40:2-4 on WNAX Yankton, North Dakota --- 1-Jun-31
Folder 6: Versifications for various occasions