Nola Fern Monsma was born to Dirk and Anna Elscott Monsma on a farm south of Lynnville on January 13, 1920. She attended Ludwick Country School and graduated eighth grade from Jasper County Country Schools in 1932 with honors. In 1936, she graduated from Lynnville High School at the age of 16. After dating four years, she married Glen Vande Krol on February 14, 1939. To this union four children were born: Dorothy, Keith, and the twins Jerry and Judy. They farmed together on a farm south of Lynnville until 1956 when they moved to the Vande Krol family farm south of Sully.a