Mary DeVries

Mary DeVries (Conraads), 98, formerly of Dike, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at Linn Manor Care Center in Marion, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at Abels Funeral Home in Dike, Iowa. A funeral service and luncheon will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2026 at the Liberty Baptist Church in Dike. Burial will follow at the Pleasant Valley Reformed Church cemetery in Holland, Iowa.

Mary was born in Butler County on July 21, 1927, to Henry and Margaret (Uhlenhopp) Conraads. She was the youngest of her siblings, Fannie, Jennie and Johanna. She attended Butler County country school and graduated from the eighth grade in June 1941.

Mary lived on a farm near Parkersburg, Iowa with her parents and helped with chores and fieldwork while growing up. After her father suffered a back injury and was no longer able to farm, the family moved into Parkersburg.

Once Mary was out of school, she worked in a restaurant and held various housekeeping jobs to earn money. Mary met Willard (Bill) DeVries whom she dated for two years before being united in marriage at age 18 on April 21, 1945. This marriage was blessed with three children, Linda Lou, Larry Ray, and Lisa Kaye.

For 40 years, the couple farmed together on an acreage west of Fern, Iowa. There are many fond memories of life on the farm where during the planting and harvest seasons, Mary prepared meals wrapped in aluminum foil and brought them out to the field so that Bill could keep working. Mary would field cultivate in the Spring and haul corn from the field in the Fall to help out with farming activities.

Bill and Mary enjoyed their annual summer fishing trips to Lake City, Minnesota with Mary’s sister, Johanna, and her husband, Elmer Kampman for several years. Mary also enjoyed taking walks, reading her Bible, spending time with family, and having a McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish sandwich and a vanilla shake every once in a while.

After Bill’s death on October 18, 1985, Mary moved to Dike, Iowa where she again worked various housekeeping jobs for several years until she officially retired. In 2014, Mary moved to Keystone Place of Cedar Rapids, Iowa where she lived for many years and finally moved to Linn Manor Care Center of Marion, Iowa in 2022.

Mary lived her life grounded in a deep faith in Jesus. While on the farm, she was an active member of Pleasant Valley Reformed Church where she served on various women’s guilds. After moving to Dike, Mary became a member of Liberty Baptist Church and participated in bible studies and would help in the kitchen during Vacation Bible School. Mary witnessed to her family regularly on how important it was to know Jesus as our Savior. When Jesus finally called Mary home, she heard the call and was ready.

Mary is survived by her children Linda (Gary) Meyer of Waterloo, Iowa, Larry (Darlene) DeVries of Newhall, Iowa and Lisa (Lee) Tilkes of Marion, Iowa. Eight grandchildren, Peggy Meyer, Mike Meyer, Ryan DeVries, Russell (Mindy) DeVries, Renee (Heiko Trumpf) DeVries, Rachel (Mike) Strope, Logan Tilkes and Landon Tilkes. Nine great-grandchildren: Shelbie Meyer, Allen Meyer, Brayden DeVries, Kaedence DeVries, Carter DeVries, Maizy DeVries, Cade Hannen, Ella Strope and Mary DeVries. One great-great grandchild: Ryder Fees. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her three sisters, Fannie Adolphs, Johanna Kampman and Jennie Ridder, and her grandson, Jeff Meyer.