Elisabeth Juliana Feekes

Elisabeth Juliana Feekes

Seattle, Washington

     Elisabeth Juliana Feekes, age 26, of Seattle, Washington and formerly of Archer, Iowa passed away on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. Her Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at the Archer Reformed Church in Archer, Iowa with Pastor Justin Jenness ~ officiating.

     Burial will be held at the Winnebago Cemetery in Winnebago, Nebraska.

     Visitation with family present will be from 9:00 A.M. – 10:15 A.M. on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at the Archer Reformed Church in Archer, Iowa.

The Vander Ploeg Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Elisabeth Juliana Feekes

 Elisabeth Juliana Feekes, 26, who was called Bizzy by all who knew her, was born October 13, 1997 in Sheldon IA to Randy and Yvette (Harden Bylsma) Feekes. She grew up on a farm by Archer IA. She left this earth unexpectedly on July 10, 2024 in Seattle WA. 

 She graduated in 2016 from Sheldon Community School. She went on to graduate in 2019 from Kuyper College in Grand Rapids MI with a double major in Intercultural Studies and Theology, with a minor in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). In 2024, she graduated from Seattle Pacific Seminary with a Master's of Theology in Reconciliation and Intercultural Studies. 

 She was a writer and an artist. She was proud to be a member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. 

 She was united in marriage to Geoff Hulsether on June 9, 2018. They rescued a Jack Russel Terrier, Bandito, he was the apple of her eye, though she called him a punk when he misbehaved. Family was so important to her and she loved them all. Her nieces and nephews were especially beloved, she would greet them with a big hug, a kiss and, “Hello, my love!”

 In her teens she went to the Dominican Republic with a Rise On The Road mission trip. She went back to the DR with ROTR for six years. Those experiences and the people who shared them, held a special place in her heart and ignited in her a passion for mission work. 

 In 2019, she and her siblings went with their mom to San Francisco on the 50th anniversary of the occupation of Alcatraz. There she learned, among other things, about the plight of indigenous people, the termination policy of the government at that time and her grandfather’s role in the occupation. A highlight of that trip was all of them getting to repaint the dock sign together.

 As a child she was terribly shy and didn’t say much. But as she grew older she found her voice and used it. In her own words, “I consider myself a restorative justice advocate, and an educator. I have participated in a variety of projects related to art, anti-racism, lament, and creation care.” She was also passionate about Indigenous sovereignty and land acknowledgement. She was earnest about justice and reconciliation, especially about her work with the Coalition for Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery.

 Bizzy faced challenges with her mental health. She confronted these trials with courage and determination. She was open about her struggles, sought treatment and support, displaying immense strength and resilience in her journey.

 Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Geoff and their doggo, Bandito. Her parents, Randy and Yvette from Archer, IA. Her brother Joe, his wife Megan, their daughter, Rita from Archer IA. Her older sister Fran Magnussen and husband Jay and their children, Emma and Johnny from Paullina IA. Her younger sister, Mariel Strouth and her husband Cole, their boys, William and Randy from Archer IA. Many cousins, her aunts and uncles. Her aunts and uncles, cousins and brothers and sisters in Winnebago. Also, many people she considered friends who became family. They loved her and were loved by her. We will all miss her wisdom, her wit, her laughter, and the light that she brought to this world.

 She was preceded in death by grandparents, John and Fran Feekes, Pete and Jeannett Bylsma, Rita Redhorn, Ross Harden, her teega, Randall, and her cuuwi, Rosanne, an uncle who she was close to, Kerry Feekes and other family members.