Dirks, Maria Dyck (1863-1960)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1960 Aug 4 p. 6

Birth date: 1863 Oct 25

text of obituary:

. . .

— Mrs. Maria Dirks, a native of Russia who came to the Burrton community in 1884, died July 27 at the Bethesda Hospital in Goessel at the age of 96. She had lived at the Bethesda Home for the past 17 years. Funeral services were held Monday forenoon at the Hoffnungsau church near Inman, Rev. Lamont Doelk and Rev. C. D. Boese officiating.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1960 Aug 11 p. 8

text of obituary:

MRS. ABRAHAM DIRKS

Maria Dyck, daughter of Peter and Katharina (Penner) Dyck, was born October 25, 1863, near the Volga River in Russia. Her mother died before she was quite five years old. Then, because of financial circumstances, she left her father's home to become the foster daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Janzen.

She was baptized upon her confession of faith in Christ as Savior on May 9, 1879 by Rev. David Hamm and became a member of the Mennonite Church in Koeppenthal, Russia.

She was in the group of those who migrated from Russia to Khiva, Asia, in 1880. Here on March 18, 1883, she was married to Abraham Dirks by Rev. John K. Penner. To this union were born 12 children, four of whom preceded her in death.

In April, 1884, they left Khiva for Orenburg, Russia, and from there came to America, arriving at Burrton, Kan., Sept. 12, 1884. Here they became members of the Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church and remained faithful to it until their deaths. For two years mother had the distinction of being the oldest member of this church.

For many years mother and father lived on the farm southwest of Buhler and in 1922 retired and moved to Buhler. In January 1943, father died and two weeks later mother went to make her home in the Goessel Home for the Aged. Here she lived until her death, except for the periods when she was a patient in the Goessel hospital.

Several times since Father died she expressed her desire to go home to her Lord also. Last July 17, her daughter Helen assured her that Jesus would soon come for her. “Will He come soon?” mother asked. These were some of the last words she ever spoke to any of her children and 10 days later on July 28, 1960 at 4:15 a.m., her desire was granted and she went home with her Lord. She had reached the age of 96 years, nine months and two days.

Surviving are five sons, A. D. Dirks of Burrton, P. D. Dirks, I. D. Dirks, and B. D. Dirks, all of Buhler; and F. D. Dirks, of Halstead; three daughters, Mrs. Mary Deckert of Denair, Calif., Mrs. Helen Dick of Moundridge, and Mrs. Margaret Richert of Buhler; one daughter-in-law, Mrs. G. D. Dirks of Buhler; 34 grandchildren, 85 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.

The funeral was held at 9:30 a.m., Monday, Aug. 1, at the Hoffnungsau Mennonite church, Rev. Lamont Woelk and Rev. C. D. Boese officiating. Burial was in the Buhler cemetery. — The Family.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1960 Aug 11 p. 10

text of obituary:

BUHLER, KAN. PIONEER DIES AT AGE 96, LEAVES 133 DESCENDANTS

Inman, Kan. — Funeral services for Mrs. Maria Dirks, 96, pioneer settler in the Buhler community, were held Aug. 1 at the Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church near here. She died July 28 at Goessel, which had been her home for a number of years.

Mother Dirks was born in Russia and came to the Buhler area in 1884. She leaves a total of 133 descendants, including five sons, three daughters, 34 grandchildren, 85 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.

The Mennonite obituary: 1960 Aug 16 p. 529