Richard Jay DeVries

Richard “Dick” DeVries, 84, of Stevensville, passed away Sunday, December 14, 2014 at Caretel in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:00 am, Thursday, December 18th, 2014, at Christian Reformed Church, 3275 Washington Avenue, St. Joseph, with Pastor John DeVries officiating. Burial & refreshments will be held at Winchester Cemetery in Byron Center at 3 P.M.  Friends may visit with the family Wednesday, December 17 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm and 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., Saint Joseph. Memorials may be made to Mission Fund for Christian Reformed Church or Esther School in Zambia.  Those who would like to share a memory of Richard may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Richard was born December 10, 1930 in Prinsburg, Minnesota to Charles & Nell (Zondervan) DeVries. He graduated from Atwater High School in 1948. Dick worked as a psychiatric nurse at Pine Rest for years prior to serving for 6 years on the mission field in Nigeria. After returning from the mission field he and Cynthia continued their calling in serving the Lord through their Christian book business. Dick & Cynthia (Monsma) were married for 36 years and after Cynthia’s passing Dick married Beverly Jager on October 2, 1993. They enjoyed visiting friends and relatives. He also enjoyed fishing while wintering in Port Aransas, TX. Dick is survived by his wife Beverly; siblings Neva DeVries, John (Marilyn) DeVries and Ken DeVries; several brother-in-laws & sister-in-laws; children Nancy SwiftBird, Carol (Wes) Risse, Chuck (Linda) DeVries, Marty (Shirley) DeVries, Keith DeVries, Hein Nguyen; step children Sheryll (Kleigh) Hirschi, Randall (Lori) Jager, Thomas (Rebecca) Jager, Charles (Mary Jo) Jager; 17 grandchildren; 9 step-grandchildren and 7 step-great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents Charles & Nell, his wife Cynthia, daughter Marcia Salmeron and infant son Robert.