Jacoba Maria (Jagt) Gorter passed away December 3, 2019. She was born July 3, 1931, on a farm near Holland, MN, to Marinus and Nellie (Van Essen) Jagt. When she was 3 weeks old, her father died of a stroke. Maria and her mother then moved into Holland to live with Nellie's parents, Ryer and Clara Van Essen. Maria lived with her grandparents while attending school in Pipestone. She married Clarence Gorter in 1948. Together they raised their eight children on farms near Russell, Lake Benton, and Pipestone before moving into their house in Pipestone. Clarence passed away in May 1990. Over the years, Maria worked for The Shopper, Pipestone County Star, and Pipestone Veterinary Clinic. Throughout her life, Maria was a member of the Pipestone, Holland, and Tyler Christian Reformed Churches and was especially proud of teaching Sunday school while attending the Tyler church. Maria enjoyed reading, knitting, and traveling - especially the time she was able to spend in Phoenix during the winter months and a trip to Hawaii. She married John Schoep in 1994, and she dissolved the marriage in 2018. Maria was able to remain in her home until about a week before her death thanks to help from her family and Pipestone County Hospice after which she went into the Pipestone Hospice House.

Maria is survived by her children - Forrest (Mary) from Phoenix, AZ;  Diane from Pipestone, MN;  Larry (Jane) from Pipestone, MN;  Laurene (Randy) Dufault from Eagan, MN;  David (Mona) from Lakeville, MN;  Debra from Phoenix, AZ; and Richard (Carolyn) from Sacramento, CA; 14 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren with another great-grandchild due in February 2020 which she was excited about; a half-brother Donald (Mary) Beckering; a step-sister AnnaBelle (Ernie) Schelhaas; and numerous cousins,  brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Clarence, son Darwin, grandson Bill, father Marinus Jagt, mother Nellie Beckering, stepfather Frank Beckering, her grandparents, a half-brother Duane Beckering, and step-brother Richard Beckering.