Tena Tolsma was born as the seventh child of Dick and Sipke De Boer Tolsma. Her parents both emigrated from Friesland in the Netherlands and made their living by combining farming with her father's work in a butcher shop. Although most would view the farmhouse that lodged their large family as tiny and humble, her father always proclaimed that it was Paradise! His enthusiasm and great sense of humor transferred to each of his children so although life was hard and frugality was a necessity as the family worked to survive especially during the Great Depression, the Tolsmas was a close fun-loving family. The family faithfully attended the Reformed Church in Stickney as did neighboring families and relatives many of whom had also immigrated to this area from Holland. Tena was a bright and enthusiastic student at their little country school where she especially excelled in reading and spelling. She often shared stories of the fun they had walking the long distance to school and how it was sometimes necessary to have the horse pull the sled in the winter. With her family unable to afford schooling beyond the 8th grade, she began doing housework for others; she also helped her older sisters care for their children. When her fiancé was killed in World War II, she decided to join her older sister Jessie in Denver, Colorado. The two worked for the Samsonite luggage company and roomed with a family from the First Reformed Church there. It was at the church youth group gatherings that she met John James Bandsma. The two were married on June 26, 1946. Although he'd just graduated from the University of Denver, Jim was working with his father doing construction work. When they learned they were expecting their first child, Jim used the hours after work and weekends to build their first home and completed it just before Beverly was born in 1948. They added two other daughters: Nancy in 1949 and Peggy in 1953 and Tena delighted in being a housewife and mother. The family was active in the First Reformed Church and most of their social life revolved around activities and friendships there. She was a wonderful hostess and friends and family always enjoyed warm hospitality and meals at her house. She was a skilled seamstress and her house was always immaculate. With a growing family to support, Jim began a varied career in human resources and once her daughters were in school, Tena also worked part-time at a J.C. Penney store and then later at the Bethesda Hospital in the dietary department. The family spent a lot of time enjoying the mountains; most weekends found them enjoying picnics there. Summer vacations found them in South Dakota, traveling throughout the western states, or in Colorado mountain resorts. It was Jim's desire that all their daughters graduate from college and Tena supported this goal especially in light of her own shortened education. All three daughters began their college educations at Central College, met their husbands there, and somewhat to Jim and Tena's dismay, ended up living in Iowa rather than returning to Denver. As each of their daughters' families made their way to Denver both in the summer and each Christmas special times were spent shopping, enjoying the mountains, and cheering for the Broncos. In 1980, Jim accepted a job in Boise, Idaho a city they soon loved. While with this company, they also lived in San Francisco and Astoria, Oregon. They moved to Pella, Iowa, in 1986 to be close to their daughters following Jim's cancer diagnosis. The couple enjoyed activities at the First Reformed Church and Tena quickly became an active member of both the Central College and Pella Hospital Auxiliaries. Jim passed away on May 23, 1988. Tena married Rev. Kenneth A. Dykstra in 1990 and quickly became his helpmate in ministry as he served as a minister of calling at the First Reformed Church in Pella and the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa, Iowa as well as many other churches as a guest pastor. They enjoyed winter stays in Arizona and Texas until their health began to decline. In recent months, Tena battled many health issues but her sense of humor stayed intact. Everyone who met her or was a part of her care commented on what a sweet person she was. A victim of multiple health issues that could not be resolved, she was admitted to the Hospice of Pella Comfort House on December 1, 2009 and passed away there peacefully on December 5, 2009 at the age of 88 years. Left to mourn her passing are her three daughters and their spouses: Bev and Dennis Brass in Pella, Nancy and Ken Borgman in Indianola, Iowa and Peggy and Mac Smith in Huxley, Iowa. She is also survived by her eight grandchildren: Jory (Amy) Brass, Lisa (Rick) Ross; Brad (Sandi) Borgman, Jeff (Tsinia) Borgman, and Steve Borgman; Kent (Madelaine) Smith, Lindsay (Kyle) Mann, Kelsey (Austin) Williamson. She also leaves behind eight great-grandchildren: Owen Ross; Cate, Finn, and Nolan Borgman; Emmett Borgman; Grant Smith; and Carter