Boese, Mary J. Dirks (1876-1963)

Date of Birth: 1876 Feb 18, Pennsylvania
Date of Death: 1963 Jan 26, Colorado

Obituary from Find A Grave:
Mrs. Ben H. Boese passed away the morning of Dec. 26, 1963, in the Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital in Burlington after a long illness at the age of 87 years, 10 months and 8 days.

Mary J. Dirks was one of eight children born to Heinrich B. Dirks and Elisabeth (Jantz) Dirks who had immigrated from Karolswalde, Russian Volhynia. She was born Feb. 18, 1876, in Lancaster, Pa., where she spent her childhood. In 1894 the family moved to Avon, S.D., where she met and married Ben H. Boese Nov. 22, 1895. Three children were born to this union. After farming for a number of years in South Dakota, they moved to Colorado in 1907 as homesteaders where roots were set down for the permanent family home. She was the last of the old pioneers still residing in the immediate community known as Pleasant Valley, southwest of Vona.

She was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters, her husband, Ben H. Boese, in 1957, and their daughter, Mrs. Edith Swartz (1897 - 1958). She is survived by two sons - Arthur of Vona and Roy of Fruita; 7 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. Henry Ewert of Avon, S.D.; three brothers - Rev. John Dirks of Beresford, S.D.; the Rev. Henry Dirks of Upland, Calif.; and Mr. Ben Dirks of Miami, Fla.

She was baptized at the age of 16 and thereafter lived a consistent Christian life.

The funeral service was held in the Mennonite Church south of Vona on Dec. 28, 1963. The Hendricks Mortuary of Burlington had charge of the arrangements. Pastor Eldon L. Boese, a grandson, read the scripture and led the prayer. Pastor Roy R. Boese, a son, read the obituary. The Rev. W. C. Garbeson of Denver brought the message. Pallbearers were D.J.Tanner, Wilbert Becker, J.Harrison, Don Easarey, John Wigton, and John Mumford. Interment was in the cemetery near the Mennonite Church.

---

MLA Personal Photos Collection

Biographical note:
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
d/o Henry B. and Elizabeth (Jantz) Dirks
m. Benjamin H. Boese 1895 Nov 22, Avon, South Dakota
Homemaker -- Avon, South Dakota and Vona, Colorado

Bethel alumni note:

Photo holdings:
See Henry B. Dirks for family photo

Sources:
Grandma Online 70880
Find A Grave 20310560
Boese, Unruh Family Tree 111-6 A11
Tschetter, Benj. G. Boese Fam. p. 33