Velda Duerksen
GOESSEL - Velda Duerksen, 92,
passed away Tuesday (April 22, 2008) at Bethesda Home in Goessel.
She was born Oct. 1, 1915, in
Marion County to Peter C. and Maria (Schroeder) Richert. She grew up on the
family farm along Kansas Highway 15 and was privileged to spend much of her
adult life there.
She attended Hochfeld
Elementary School, Goessel High School and Bethel College.
She was baptized by the Rev.
P.H. Unruh on June 4, 1933, and became a member of the Alexanderwohl Mennonite
Church.
Velda married A. Adolph
Duerksen on April 16, 1942, and enjoyed 50 years of marriage together until his
death Nov. 2, 1992.
She was a church secretary
for 18 years and spent much of her adult life pursuing her interests in church
history and German translation work.
Velda leaves to cherish her
memory three daughters, Lois and husband, Otto Loeppky of Steinbach, Manitoba,
Canada, Barbara Duerksen and husband, Steven (Stein) Goering of Richland
Center, Wis., and Julia Duerksen and husband, Allan Smith of San Francisco; a
son, Richard and wife, Sheryl, of Perkasie, Pa.; five grandchildren; one
great-grandson; a sister, Jeanette Voth of Goessel, and numerous nieces and
nephews.
She also was preceded in
death by three sisters, Marna Mildred Richert in infancy, Alice Richert and
Irma Duerksen; a brother, Orie Richert; and one step-granddaughter, Cathie
Smith.
Visitation will be from 4 to
8 p.m. Sunday with family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at Miller Funeral Home in
Goessel.
Memorial service will be at
10:30 a.m. Monday at the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church in Goessel. Burial will
be at 9:30 a.m. Monday in the church cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be
make to Bethesda Home or Mennonite Central Committee in care of the funeral
home.
