Emma Grace Dirks

Emma Grace (Friesen) Dirks died Tuesday October 26,2010, at Bethel Home, Montezuma, Kansas, reaching the age of 83 years. Funeral service held at Woodland Mennonite Church, at 2:30 pm with graveside service held at Mountain View Mennonite cemetery, Bonners Ferry, Idaho, on Saturday, October 30th, 2010. She was the daughter of Bernhard and Helen (Fleming) Friesen, born December 31, 1926, at Lehigh, Kansas. She was a member of the Church of God in Christ Mennonite, and held to this faith unto the end. On September 29th, 1946 she married Harold Keith Dirks at Winton, California, and they enjoyed 64 years together. The first 23 years of their marriage was spent in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. The 8 children were all born there. In 1969 all of the family, but Jay, moved to Brazil. The move was quite an undertaking for Mom. Living a pioneer life the first few years was a challenge. They spent about 20 years in Brazil before moving back to Bonners Ferry in the late 80's. When their health started to decline, they moved to an assisted living home in Moscow, Idaho, to be near to some of their children. In 2008 they moved to Bethel Home. She leaves behind her husband, Harold, Montzeuma, Kansas; four sons, Jay and Janice, Les and Betty, Potlatch, Idaho, Leo and Mariam, Brazil, Fred and Denise, Iroquois, South Dakota; three daughters, Bonnie and Eldon Penner, Brazil, Greta, Montzeuma, Kansas, Shirley and Paul Koepl, Viola, Idaho. One brother, Herb and Nora Friesen, Aberdeen, Mississippi; three sisters, Clara Koehn, Livingston, California, Bernettie and Abe Loewen, Geiger, Alabama, Mabel and Jim Cryan, Reno, Nevada, one brother-in-law, Alvin Hiebert, Walnut Hill, Florida. 22 grandchildren, and 30 great grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, an infant daughter Sharon, a sister, Leah Hiebert, a brother•in•law, George Koehn, and 2 great grandchildren. A memorial was held on Wednesday October 27th, 2010 at 1:30 pm, at Bethel Home. Family and friends are invited to sign Emma’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com Arrangement are entrusted to the care of Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.