Mary Ellen Derksen
Newton - Mary Ellen Derksen, 91, of Newton, passed away
Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at Wesley Medical Center. She was born July 6, 1929
in Elkhart, Indiana, the daughter of Harvey and Laura (Culp) Weldy.
Mary received her Associate's degree in Bible and Bachelor's
degree in Nursing from Goshen College, Goshen, IN. She worked in nursing for
many years including; Elkhart General Hospital, Director of Nursing at Prairie
View in Newton, staff nurse at Bethel Hospital in Newton, Bethesda Hospital and
Bethesda Home, in Goessel. Later she was the Medical Records Designee and
became Resident Assessment Coordinator for Bethesda Home, retiring in 1995.
Mary and Lester served as foster parents for Prairie View
and Methodist Youthville from 1963-1973. She served on the USD 411 School Board
of Goessel 1971-1975, Board of Deacons at Goessel Mennonite Church, Jan.
1994-Dec. 1999 and Bethesda Home Board of Trustees 1994-2000. She taught Bible
School and Sunday school at various times beginning when she was a teenager
Mary was united in marriage to Lester Derksen on June 13,
1959 in Goshen, Indiana. He passed away on January 25, 2021.
Survivors include her sons, Robert (Debra) Derksen of Iowa
City, Iowa, and Roger (Sara) Derksen of Conroe, Texas; daughter, Ruth (Bobby)
Church of Newton; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and sister,
Vera Weldy of Wakarusa, Indiana.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents; son, Richard Lee
Derksen; brother, Dale Weldy; and sister, Cleo Lehman.
A public memorial service will be held at 3:00 pm Saturday,
August 14, 2021 at the Goessel Church, in Goessel, KS. Memorial contributions
may be made to Bethesda Home, 408 E Main St, Goessel, KS 67053.
