Milton Harry Duerksen was born on April
2, 1929, at the Bethesda Hospital in Goessel, Kansas, to Marie
Schmidt Duerksen and Dan Duerksen. He passed from his earthly life on
Dec. 22, 2022, at Bethesda Home, across the street from where he was
born. He was 93.
Milton joined a family with two
sisters, Ella and Eulalia, and their mother died when he was a year
old. His father remarried, and two more children joined the family,
Dora and Marvin.
After attending South Bloomfield
School, Milt went to Goessel High School, where he would have loved
to participate in sports, but his farming responsibilities at home
took priority. It was in Goessel High that he noticed one of the five
Voth sisters?the one named Alice with the beautiful blonde hair and
sweet smile. They were married in 1952 at Tabor Mennonite Church.
A son, Kenneth, was born in 1953, but
he died a few days later. Carol arrived in 1954, while Milt and Alice
were working in Denver in the 1-W program. After their two years of
service, the young family moved back to the Goessel community, and in
1957, Marlo joined the family, followed by Gary in 1961.
Milt was always involved with
agriculture. He farmed, worked at a turkey plant, was a hired hand
for another farming operation, helped build farm equipment at Hesston
Corporation, and sold Nutrena feed from his barn on the farm. He
raised hogs and cattle and helped foster a love of animals in his
children.
When their children married and brought
spouses, grandchildren, and exchange students into the family, Milt
and Alice welcomed them with a keen interest in who they were and
what was happening in their lives. They traveled to Virginia to watch
a play that Travis wrote and directed, spent countless hours watching
Olivia?s sports events, purchased yet another Lego set for Zach,
and Milt ?discussed? the proper color for cattle (red versus
black) with Kent regularly.
Milton grew up in Alexanderwohl
Mennonite Church and was a life-long, active member there, including
serving as a deacon with Alice and as an usher.
Wherever he went, Milt made friends.
Forty years after he quit working at Hesston Corporation, he could go
for a drive in the country and tell you where some of his friends
from the corporation lived. His sense of humor brightened the day of
many. When he received special gifts of Mountain Dew and
International Harvester items from friends, his grin filled the room;
he also let it be known at one point that there would be no green
tractors at his funeral.
Milton and Alice enjoyed their family
in many ways, and one of the highlights was an annual weekend family
trip?a tradition that started more than 40 years ago and continues
to this day. When his wife passed in 2011, after nearly 59 years of
marriage, it was very hard on Milton. But he found ways to carry on,
continuing to do farm work and maintain the upkeep of the farm, yard
and house by himself for another nine years.
Milt moved into Bethesda Home in March
of 2020, thinking it would be a short-term stay and he would return
to his beloved farm. He ended up staying at Bethesda, where he found
another ?family??people to tease, care for and accept care from
and include in the wide circle of friends who loved this man with the
kind heart and ready conversation.
Celebrating his life are his children,
spouses, grandchildren and their spouses: Carol Duerksen and Maynard
Knepp; Marlo and Lynette Duerksen, Travis Duerksen and Erica
Stotlzfus, Kent and Lyndsey Duerksen; Gary and Angie Duerksen, Olivia
and Zach; sisters, Dora Unruh and Eulalia Schroeder; brother, Marvin
(Rosalie) Duerksen; many relatives and friends.
A celebration of life (an opportunity
to reminisce with family) will take place from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 4, at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, Goessel. A
private burial will be at Alexanderwohl Church Cemetery with a
memorial service at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 5, at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Bethesda Home in care of
Miller-Ott Funeral Home, PO Box 96, Goessel, KS 67053.
