George Jacob DeRuyter

February 19, 1939 – August 9, 2026 George DeRuyter Sr., 87, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, dairyman, and man of deep Catholic faith, passed away Sunday, August 9, 2026. George was born February 19, 1939, in Ilpendam, Netherlands, to Jacob and Alida DeRuyter. The tenth of thirteen children, he immigrated to the United States with his family in 1947 at the age of eight. The family's arrival in America coincided with the Fourth of July. As fireworks filled the sky, young George thought they were being set off to welcome him to his new country. It became a favorite family story, and the Fourth of July remained his favorite holiday throughout his life. George loved America and believed deeply in the opportunities his adopted country had given him. When George arrived in America, he spoke no English. He was initially moved from the third grade back to the first, but quickly learned the language and returned to his third-grade level. His education in the Netherlands had prepared him well enough that he later skipped the fourth grade and went directly into fifth. His strong work ethic was already evident as a boy. While working on his family's dairy farm in Santa Ana, California, he couldn't begin his school day until 10 a.m. because he first had to bottle milk each morning. George went on to graduate from Mater Dei High School. On March 1, 1955, he and his family became United States citizens. George later served for seven and a half years in the United States Air Force Reserve. George fell in love with Margaret Bettencourt, and they married in Buena Park in 1963. Together they raised five sons—Steve, Robert, Dan, Tom, and George—and operated a drive-thru dairy in Southern California. In 1972, George sold the drive-thru dairy, and he and Margaret moved their young family to Outlook, Washington, seeking a new opportunity in the dairy business. There, George and Margaret started a dairy farm that, through decades of hard work and perseverance, grew into a sizable operation. George loved being a dairyman, loved his farm, and cared deeply for the people who worked alongside him, especially his faithful longtime employees Celso, Iker, and Enrique. George's approach to life could often be summed up by one of his favorite sayings: "Failure is not an option." Yet despite his accomplishments, he remained humble, often describing himself simply as a "poor country boy." He was a man of integrity, a tremendous work ethic, generosity, kindness, and a wonderful sense of humor. At the center of George's life was his Catholic faith. He was deeply devoted to God and the Church, and attending Mass was a priority wherever he went. His faith shaped the way he lived, worked, loved his family, and gave to others. Following Margaret's death, George was blessed to find love again with Arlene Hull. They married on September 3, 2011, and made their home in Outlook, sharing the later years of his life together. Through their marriage, George also welcomed Arlene's son, Brian, and his family as his own. George loved traveling, country music, mariachi bands, playing the guitar, and, perhaps most of all, singing. He would happily fire up his karaoke machine and sing late into the night. George was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret; his parents, Jacob and Alida; and seven of his brothers and sisters. George is survived by his wife, Arlene; his five sons, Steve (Sharon), Robert, Dan, Tom (Suzi), and George (Abbie); his stepson, Brian (Jennifer); 19 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; his siblings, Ann Dykzeul, Peter (Fran) DeRuyter, Jake (Judy) DeRuyter, Ed (Cory) DeRuyter, and Dorothy (Otto) Koetsier; his sister-in-law, Mary DeRuyter; and many nieces and nephews. The family extends special thanks to Father Bill Vogel, George's dear friend, and to his nephew Jake DeRuyter for their friendship, love, care, and faithful visits over the past six years. George came to America as an eight-year-old boy who saw fireworks overhead and believed they were welcoming him home. Over the next 79 years, he built quite a life in that new home—a family he loved, a dairy he was proud of, enduring friendships, and a legacy of faith, hard work, generosity, laughter, and song. A Rosary will be held Wednesday, August 19, at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday, August 20, at 10:00 a.m. at Resurrection Catholic Church, 704 Schooley Road, Zillah, Washington. In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family asks that donations be made in George's memory to the Sister Rebecca Berghoff Foundation at St. Joseph School in Yakima.

George Jacob DeRuyter

February 19, 1939 - August 9, 2026

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George Jacob DeRuyter

February 19, 1939 - August 9, 2026

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