In Loving Memory of Mimi Berkhout
Donation protected
On the evening of October 17th, 2017 Mimi Berkhout/Brinker was murdered by her husband in the City of Mitchell, South Dakota. After years of struggling against domestic violence, numerous police contacts and arrests, and with a five year protection order in place against her husband, she was unable to obtain the safety she sought for herself and her children.
James Brinker was arrested for the murder of his wife Mimi on that calamitous night. The remainder of details are far too devastating to place here, so the news articles are provided below.
Mimi is survived by her three children, her mother Barbara Berkhout, and her father Jan Berkhout, as well as two brothers.
For years Mr. and Mrs. Berkhout have financially and emotionally supported their beloved daughter and adored grandchildren especially as Mimi struggled with MS most of her life. Even being in their late 70's to early 80's in age, they have driven to Mitchell from Vermillion, South Dakota every single weekend in order to be involved with their grandchildren as much as possible. They continued to make this trip, even though they suffered a disastrous house fire in Vermillion earlier this year.
It is the extremely heartfelt and expressed wishes of one of the boys that Mimi receive a proper burial, so he went out with his grandpa Jan to find the right place for her.
This situation is a financial hardship for the family and with the ongoing circumstances the future of the children is unknown.
This fund will go toward the funeral costs as well as the care of the family. If enough money is raised to cover the costs of the funeral as well as providing for the three children in whatever their new living situations become, Jan and Barbara will be placing the remainder into a college fund for the children to be split evenly.
The funeral is scheduled for 10:00 am Saturday at the Bittner Funeral Chapel in Mitchell, SD.
Funeral Information/Obituary
KeloLand News Article 1
KeloLand News Article 2
Mitchell Daily Republic
1490Korn
Painting of Mimi as a child by her grandpa Berkhout
Jan & Barbara (mom & dad)
James Brinker was arrested for the murder of his wife Mimi on that calamitous night. The remainder of details are far too devastating to place here, so the news articles are provided below.
Mimi is survived by her three children, her mother Barbara Berkhout, and her father Jan Berkhout, as well as two brothers.
For years Mr. and Mrs. Berkhout have financially and emotionally supported their beloved daughter and adored grandchildren especially as Mimi struggled with MS most of her life. Even being in their late 70's to early 80's in age, they have driven to Mitchell from Vermillion, South Dakota every single weekend in order to be involved with their grandchildren as much as possible. They continued to make this trip, even though they suffered a disastrous house fire in Vermillion earlier this year.
It is the extremely heartfelt and expressed wishes of one of the boys that Mimi receive a proper burial, so he went out with his grandpa Jan to find the right place for her.
This situation is a financial hardship for the family and with the ongoing circumstances the future of the children is unknown.
This fund will go toward the funeral costs as well as the care of the family. If enough money is raised to cover the costs of the funeral as well as providing for the three children in whatever their new living situations become, Jan and Barbara will be placing the remainder into a college fund for the children to be split evenly.
The funeral is scheduled for 10:00 am Saturday at the Bittner Funeral Chapel in Mitchell, SD.
Funeral Information/Obituary
KeloLand News Article 1
KeloLand News Article 2
Mitchell Daily Republic
1490Korn
Painting of Mimi as a child by her grandpa BerkhoutJan & Barbara (mom & dad)Organizer
Jan Berkhout
Organizer
Mitchell, SD
