Katherine E. Duerksen
Katherine E. Duerksen, 101, of Newton, died July 20, 2002, at Friendly Acres Retirement Community in Newton.
Born Sept. 25, 1900, in McPherson County, she was the daughter of Peter J. and Maria Fehdrau (Klassen).
On May 8, 1924, she married Abraham R. Duerksen. They lived on farms in the Hillsboro and Goessel area. In 1955 they moved to Bluffton, Ohio, and moved to Newton in 1962. He died Aug. 23, 1969.
She was a teacher and a homemaker. She was a member of Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church and the mission circle of the church.
Survivors include sons, Harold of Tucson, Ariz., and Roland of Oxford, Ohio; daughters Elda Roupp and Erna Schmidt, both of Hesston; sister, Ella Schmidt of Hesston; 16 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Services were held July 25 at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church near Goessel with Rev. James Dunn officiating. Burial was at Alexanderwohl Cemetery.
Memorials have been established at Friendly Acres Retirement Community and the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church.
