Born Imkje Dijkstra in Friesland, Holland. Daughter of Leendert Meintes Dykstra and Grietje Theunis Norbruis.

Obituary appeared in The Sioux County Capital, page 6, on July 26, 1962:
"Emma Dykstra rites Friday
Final rites for Miss Emma Dykstra were held at the Van Etten funeral home here Friday.
Miss Dykstra, 83, died on Wednesday, at the local hospital following an illness of two months. She had been a resident of the Pioneer Home for the past year after having served in the household of the late W. F. Rieckhoffs for 59 consecutive years.
Immediate survivors include three sisters and a brother -- Mrs. William Westra, Orange City, Mrs. Henry Bartels and Dora Dykstra, of Bellflower, Calif., and T. L. Dykstra of Holland, Mich.
Services were conducted by the Rev. R. R. Van Heukelom of the First Reformed church, and interment was in the Orange City cemetery.
Pallbearers were Donald Jurriaans, Andrew Jurriaans, Thomas J. De Jong, John G. Korver, Leo Houtsma, Guy Dykstra. Providing special music were Mrs. Lloyd De Jong, Mrs. Harold De Jager and Mrs. Jake De Haan."

Obituary appeared in the Sioux Center News, page 6, on July 26, 1962:
"Miss Emma Dykstra
Funeral services for Miss Emma Dykstra, 83, of Orange City, who died in a hospital Wednesday, were at 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 20, at the Van Etten funeral home in Orange City. Rev. R. Van Heukelom officiated and burial was in the Orange City cemetery.
Miss Dykstra was born February 12, 1879. She had been a housekeeper in the W. F. Rieckhoff home for more than 50 years.
Survivors include three sisters, Miss Dora Dykstra and Mrs. William Westra, both of Orange City, and Mrs. Henry Bartels of Bellflower, Calif., and a brother, Teunis Dykstra of Holland, Mich."

From the Sioux Center News, page 6, February 16, 1964:
Northwestern college received a $9100 legacy recently from the estate of the late Emma Dykstra of Orange City. The family specified that $4000 be designated for the Memorial Chapel fund and $5100 be placed in the Endowment fund. Miss Dykstra was 83 years of age at the time of her death, and she spent virtually her entire adult life working for the Rieckhoff family in Orange City."