Dale H. Dirks

Dale H. Dirks, my dear husband and our father and grandfather, was born to Ben and Martha Jantz, Dirks on December 5, 1930. He peacefully passed away in Dixie Regional Medical Center, Saint George, Utah on February 4, 2011. He became ill while visiting their daughter and family and was admitted to the hospital. He died as a result of the cancer he had courageously fought for approximately twenty years. Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 10:30 in the Mountain View Mennonite Church in Bonners Ferry, Idaho with interment following in the Mountain View Mennonite Cemetery. On October 12, 1952, he was married to me, Jeanette Koehn, in Winton, California, by minister Edward Jantz. We shared fifty-eight happy years together. We were blessed with four children. At the age of five Dad moved with his family from Copeland, Kansas to the Bonners Ferry, Idaho area. Several of his growing up years were spent in logging camps in the mountains of North Idaho, where his father worked and his mother cooked for the logging crews. Later his parents were involved in farming in the Kootenia Valley. He had a unique way of relating the experiences of his younger years and we never tired of listening to them. At the age of thirteen, Dad felt the call of the Lord and gave his heart to him. He was baptized into the Church of God in Christ Mennonite on March 5, 1944 by minister Jesse Johnson. He remained faithful to his vows throughout his life and left the testimony of being ready to meet the Lord, saying, “It is only by the grace of God”. As a family we feel assured of his salvation and a home in heaven. Dad was a man who thought of others before himself and was meticulously honest and fair in his dealings with them. Dad enjoyed the challenge of starting a new venture and was involved in various occupations throughout his life. He was a talented man who could do many things well. In later years he was occupied with building houses and growing nursery stock. Dad loved his family and was always interested in what they were doing, often stopping in just to say “Hi” and to see what was going on. He also found much pleasure in the simple things around him and enjoyed hiking, nature, museums and old things that reminded him of his childhood. As his children we feel blessed to have had him for our father. Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife Jeanette, two daughters, Cheryl and Roger Unruh, Moyie Springs, Idaho, Diane and Arnold Harms, Ivins, Utah. One son, Russell and Brenda, Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Twelve grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren, One brother, Harold Dirks, Bethel Home, Montezuma, Kansas. Brother-in-law, Orville Koehn and wife Valeda, Winton, CA, sister-in-law, Lillian Mastre and husband Stan, Bonners Ferry, Idaho and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law, an infant daughter, one sister, two sisters-inlaw, and one brother-in-law. Family and friends are invited to sign Dale’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.