Harold Keith Dirks passed away March 14, 2011, in Montezuma, Kansas.

Funeral Services were held March 21 at Woodland Mennonite Church in Bonners Ferry, with interment following in the Mountain View Mennonite Cemetery, Bonners Ferry.

Harold Keith Dirks was born January 26, 1924, to Ben & Martha (Jantz) Dirks at Durham, Kansas. He peacefully passed away on March 14, 2011, with family by his side at Montezuma, Kansas, reaching the age of 87 years.

Due to the dust bowl days Dad moved to Bonners Ferry with his family in a 1935 ford pickup at the age of 12. Their first home was a log house they rented for $10 a month.

He was converted at the age of 20 and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ Mennonite on March 3, 1944. He remained faithful to the end.

While in camp in California he met our mother, Emma Grace Friesen. They were married on September 29, 1946, at Winton, California. They enjoyed 64 years together until Mother passed away October 26, 2010, leaving Dad very lonely.

After camp they made their home in Bonners Ferry, where he had various occupations, including operating a saw mill and farming. In 1969, they moved to Brazil in a pickup camper with six of their children, where he enjoyed farming for 20 years. They moved back to Bonners Ferry in 1989.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his children and grandchildren.

When their health started to decline they moved to an assisted living home in Moscow, Idaho, to be near some of their children. In 2008, they moved to Bethel Home.

He leaves to mourn his passing 4 sons and 3 daughters. Jay and Janice, Les and Betty, Potlatch, Idaho, Leo and Mim, Brazil, Fred and Denise, Iroquois, South Dakota. Bonnie and Eldon Penner, Brazil, Greta Dirks, Montezuma, Kansas, Shirley and Paul Koepl, Viola, Idaho. 21 Grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren. Sisters-in-law Jeanette Dirks, Clara Koehn, Bernettie and husband Abe Loewen, Mabel and husband Jim Cryan. Brothers-in-law Herb Friesen and wife Nora, and Alvin Hiebert, and a host of relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, wife, one infant daughter, one granddaughter, two great grandchildren, a brother, a sister, a brother-in-law, and one sister-in-law.

Family and friends are invited to sign Harold’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com.