Neil passed away Monday, May 22, 2023, at his home in Fairmont, Minn., surrounded by his daughters. Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.

Cornelius Junior DeVries was born Feb. 15, 1942, in Pipestone, Minn., the son of Cornelius DeVries and Anna (VanHouten) DeVries.  He graduated from Pipestone High School. Neil went on to further his education at DeVry Technical Institute in Chicago and later graduated from Mankato State University. On May 1, 1965, Neil was united in marriage to Sonija Christensen in Mankato, Minn. The couple lived in Wisconsin and Minnesota before making their home in Fairmont, where they purchased a ServiceMaster franchise. Their love for the Lord prompted them, after retiring, to volunteer at the Rio Grande Bible Institute where they later attended Spanish language school prior to becoming short-term missionaries in Costa Rica for 3 years. Neil was a lifelong self-taught learner and entrepreneur. He started many businesses including Neil’s Salvage, The Glass Man, and DeVries Air Duct Cleaning. Neil enjoyed working on the rental houses he owned and especially building relationships with his tenants. He loved traveling with his dear wife, Sonija, family, and friends. Neil traveled many miles to attend his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events and activities, and especially enjoyed his trips with his daughters and their families. Neil loved the Lord Jesus and was a member of Bethel Evangelical Free Church and the Gideons. He happily served as a deacon, an AWANA leader and various positions in the church. Neil had a heart to share the love and grace that he found through Jesus with family and others. Life wasn’t always easy for Neil as he had many health challenges through the years. However, his resilience because of his trust in the Lord was, and continues to be, an inspiration to those around him.

Left to cherish his memory are his daughters, Chris (Bill) Krumholz, Tonja (Tim) Smick, Andrea (Michael) McCarron and Leah (Joshua) Ensrud; grandchildren, Willis (Alyssa) Krumholz, Kellie (Beckett) Witzke, Katie (Chad) Poppen, Anna (Alex) Voyles, Steven Krumholz, Theo (Sara) Krumholz, Sarah Krumholz, Calvin Smick, Spencer Smick, Stuart Smick (Morgan Zebedee), Hayley (Hunter) Hillstrom, Tanner (Tera) McCarron, Evelyn (Timothy) Kue, Christian Jorgenson, Alexandra Ensrud, Blair Ensrud and Fallon Ensrud; great-grandchildren, Josephine Krumholz, Wolfgang and Wellesley Witzke, Leo Poppen, AlmaLeigh, Arnie, Arlo, Adalyne, and Agnes Voyles, Sierra Smick, Philip, Tobias and Cornelia Kue; sister, Bernice Brouwer; sisters-in-law, Lucille Doss and Karen Christensen; as well as many other extended family, friends and foster children. Neil was preceded in death by his wife, Sonija DeVries; his parents, Cornelius and Anna DeVries; parents-in-law, Arnie and Evelyn Christensen; sisters, Carol Van Dam and Betty Toering; brothers-in-law, Edward Van Dam, Bert Brouwer and Louie Toering. The family requests memorials be made in Neil’s name to the Gideons and Options Pregnancy Center of Fairmont. www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net

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