December 2022

Milton Harry Duerksen was born April 2, 1929 at the Bethesda Hospital in Goessel, Kansas, to Marie Schmidt Duerksen and Dan Duerksen. He passed from his earthly life on December 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 sistersthe 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 on a regular basis. Milton grew up in Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church and was a life-long, active member there,