Theodore M VanDyke was born February 24, 1896, in Verboort, Oregon, the son of John and Constance (Hermans) VanDyke. He grew up in Verboort, Oregon. He attended school in the old Columbia Academy near North Plains, Oregon, Roy Grade and Purdin Grade Schools.

He spent his early life helping his farther farm in the Verboort area. In 1918 Ted enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War I. Following his discharge from the army his father bought a farm near St. Paul, Oregon.  November 17, 1920, he married Nellie (Petronella) Vandehey of Roy Oregon. They had 16 children. Wilbert 1921, Martha (Waibel)1923, Edmund 1924, Gerald 1926, Eileen (McMahan) 1927, Leslie 1931, Carl 1932, Ethel (Duyck)1934, Maurice 1937, Joann (Sister Jean Marie) 1939, Joyce 1940, Richard 1942, Norman (Salt)1944, Norbert (Pepper) 1944, Berniece 1945, Doris 1946

Ted and Nellie lived and reared their children on the St. Paul Farm on Davidson Road; they raised multiple fruit and grain crops for 48 years.   Ted Joined the Woodburn Fruit Growers Coop and served as director for 11 years and as president for one term.

Ted and Nellie retired in 1967, and moved back to Washington County, building a house on Long Road near Cornelius, Oregon where they lived out the rest of their lives.  Petronela (Nellie) his wife predeceased him.  

Ted loved hunting and fishing. He and Nellie became interested in rock hounding in their later years. Ted died at the age of 91 on April 11, 1987