Lampert ìBertî Vande Kamp

Lampert ìBertî Vande Kamp passed away on Oct. 29, 2003, at his rural home in North Branch, Minn.
Bert was born Oct. 31, 1925, in Silver Creek, Minn., on a farm. His parents were Garrett and Hattie Vande Kamp. Bert was baptized at the Silver Creek Reformed Church, and went to country school in Silver Creek, Minn., until his 16th birthday (7th grade).
On Nov. 2, 1941, he joined the CCC camp in Maple Lake and served on community projects until Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Day, the camp was closed. He then moved to Hollandale, Minn., to work in vegetable fields for big money ñ 40 cents per hour. After working and earning money he bought his Harley Davidson 45 motorcycle.
In 1943, Bert went to Montana to work on a ranch.
On October 11, 1944, he was drafted in the U.S. Army. In April 1945 he was sent by ship to Manilla, Philippines to L. Company 63rd Infantry. He was then sent by ship to Seoul, Korea, wounded and was given the Purple Heart. On Sept. 9, 1946, he was honorably discharged from Lawton, Wash., and took a train to Albert Lea, Minn., where his girl (Ruth) met him.
Bert married Ruth Ames on Nov. 3, 1946. They lived in Hollandale, Minn., and worked in Verdornís Garage 1947-1949. They were proud parents of three sons (Gary, Bob and Bruce) born in Albert Lea, Minn.
In 1950, they moved to a 40 acre farm east of Ellendale, Minn., and milked 17 cows, raised pigs and four acres of onions and corn.
On March 1, 1952, Bert and Ruth bought and moved to a 93- acre farm halfway between North Branch and Cambridge on Hwy. 95. Bert milked Jersey cows, raised pigs and chickens and farmed corn and hay with a Ford tractor. In the spring of 1952, Bert worked on the railroad raising tracks. From 1953-1955 he mowed state highway rights-of-way in Isanti County as well as milking cows and farming.
On June 26, 1954, a storm came and blew the barn down. The same night their fourth son (Ron) was born. A year later, Bert and his dad built a new barn in between chores and his mowing roads for the state.
In the fall of 1959, Bert custom picked corn for farmers (because he had the only picker of 300 acres with a one row Woods Brother picker and Ford tractor) after he had his own done first.
In the winter, between chores he took sons and relatives ice fishing every chance he could. Summer fishing was a special time to go fishing when relatives came up only because the farm work needed to be done first.
In 1960 the fifth son (Ross) was born.
After twenty years of farming, milking 35 Jersey cows, raising feeder pigs, planting two acres of muskmelons, two acres of cucumbers, two acres of black raspberries, and crop farming 200 acres, Bert and Ruth sold the farm and the cow herd of Jerseys to the land buyer, and had one of the largest auctions held in the area at that time on July 4, 1973.
Bert and Ruth then moved to Spring Lake, Minn., where they moved into a house in where the Country Store stood and lived there for three years.
In 1976, they moved closer to North Branch on a 40-acre farm, and built a new home and sheds. It is here that he passed away.
Being retired for 30 years, he was still farming, raising corn, a few pigs and beef each year and said, ìonce a farmer, always a farmer.î
Bert always went fishing every chance he could, six and a half days a week. He always took many friends with him over the years fishing in his boat and fish house in the winter. He always made sure his friends, who were long time acquaintances, would get fresh fish right from the lake to their doorsteps and hung them on their doorknobs if they not home. Bert also supplied filet fish to bus drivers and his church fish fry for everyone to enjoy.
Bert was a successful lifelong farmer, business owner (Vanís Sewer Service), a real caregiver, family oriented, problem solver, a friend to everyone for 78 years and a true believer in Christ.
He is preceded in death by his parents Garrett and Hattie Vande Kamp; brother, Walter Vande Kamp; sister, Jennie Rowe; grandson, Kevin William Vande Kamp.
Bert is survived by his wife, Ruth Vande Kamp; five sons, Gary (Gail) Vande Kamp, Bob (LeeAnn), Ron, Bruce (Carol), Ross (Deb); sister Effie Torell (Lawrence); 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Nov. 4, at the Harris Covenant Church in Harris, Minn.
Interment was at Oak Hill Cemetery, North Branch, Minn. Honor Guard provided by
Harris VFW Post 139, Ralph W. Carlson, Commander, taps, Roger Nelson.
Arrangements by Grandstrand Funeral Home, North Branch.

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