A Legacy to Emulate By Gail DeYoung Roland and Ruth Kamps, Ron Polinder, Ken Zylstra, Kathy Bosscher, Ina Burmeister
W
e live in a part of the country where money is simply hard to come by. One of the sad results of this lack of money is that both abject poverty and negative statistics seem to abound. New Mexico ranks 3rd in the nation with regard to the poverty rate. Recent statistics, according to a local newspaper, rank Gallup as Number 1 in the nation in alcohol related deaths. The public school system’s most current report card in New Mexico was given a D and ranked 49th in the nation. And yet, in the midst of hopelessness, many have given to make a difference. For generations, people of faith and purpose have answered the call to make a difference. A remarkable woman, Helen DeVos, was one of those people. She was deeply endowed with both money and a desire to give generously to help improve life and education for all people in our area. Her motivation was rooted in a deep faith in the Lord and the causes that moved her heart were primarily missions, education, and a profound passion to support the arts. But why would a woman representing a family of wealth some 1600 miles away from Gallup, NM
52
February 2018
choose to give to a mission named Rehoboth? The many tangents that answer that question are tied together by one profound revelation: Look at what God has done! The Life of Helen De Vos Helen Van Wesep DeVos was born Feb. 24, 1927 in Grand Rapids, Michigan and was the only child of George and Wilma Burggraaff Van Wesep. She was raised by God-fearing parents who gave her a solid foundation in the Christian Reformed Church. From a young age, she learned that our money and resources are not ours but are really the Lord’s; she also learned of a mission effort called Rehoboth. Helen graduated from Frankfort, Michigan High School,
in 1943. From there, she attended Calvin College, earned an education degree and trained to become an elementary teacher. One day, after graduation, she and a friend were offered a ride home by a man and his friend. Little did Helen realize that the ride home would lead to a plane ride, then a boat ride and finally a marriage proposal on her 25th birthday from a man who would become one of the wealthiest individuals in America: Rich De Vos. Rich DeVos was a legendary salesman who set up shop, after his marriage to Helen, in his basement initially to sell cleaning products. He has been described as the consummate salesman who could sell an ice box to an Eskimo. The DeVos’ next door neighbors, Jay and
