1899–1979

Introduction

Born: May 17, 1899, Holl­and, Mi­chi­gan.

Died: Oc­to­ber 15, 1979, Wy­om­ing, Mi­chi­gan.

Buried: Winchester Ce­me­te­ry, By­ron Cen­ter, Mi­chi­gan.

illustration

Biography

Dewey was the son of Douwe Jans West­ra and Jantje Min­ne­ma, and hus­band of Nell­ie Koetje.

He at­tend­ed Cal­vin Col­lege, Grand Ra­pids, Mi­chi­gan, and Wayne State Uni­ver­si­ty, De­troit, Mi­chi­gan.

He served as a prin­ci­pal of Chris­tian schools in By­ron Cen­ter and De­troit in the 1920s and 1930s.

In the 1940s he held va­ri­ous po­si­tions, in­clud­ing that of a die­sel in­struct­or at Ford Motor Com­pa­ny.

He re­turned to edu­ca­tion in 1947, as a prin­ci­pal in Sioux Cen­ter, Io­wa; Ran­dolph, Wis­con­sin; and Wal­ker, Mi­chi­gan.

Works

He was known as a po­et, not on­ly in Eng­lish, but al­so in Dutch and Fri­sian. In ad­di­tion, he ver­si­fied all of the Psalms, the Lord’s Pray­er, and the songs of Ma­ry, Ze­cha­ri­ah and Si­me­on.

Sources

Lyrics

  1. As the Hart, About to Falter
  2. Blest Be the God of Israel
  3. Hallelujah! Praise Ye God!
  4. How Blessed Are the Perfect in the Way
  5. Jehovah Reigns as King
  6. Let All Exalt Jehovah’s Goodness
  7. Lord, I Will Sing with Rapturous Rejoicing
  8. My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord
  9. My Soul Was Glad
  10. Now May Thy Servant, Lord
  11. O Bless the Lord, My Soul, with All Thy Power
  12. O Lord, How Swiftly Grows
  13. Our Father, Clothed with Majesty
  14. Out of the Depths of Sadness
  15. Praise the Lord, Ye Lands
  16. Sing, Sing a New Song to Jehovah
  17. Sing, Sing a New Song to the Lord God
  18. Song of Simeon
  19. Spacious Heavens Laud, The
  20. Ten Commandments, The
  21. Unto the Hills I Lift Mine Eyes
  22. With All My Heart Will I Record

Help Needed

If you can help with any of these it­ems,