Esther J. Doerksen, 86, died November 26, 2022, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. She was born 10 April 1936, in rural Burrton, Reno County, KS, to George W.C. and Mary Jane (Fryar) Westfahl.
She attended VanSickle Grade School in Valley Township and graduated from Haven High School in 1954. A lifetime rural Burrton resident, Esther was born and raised in the same house where she spent most of her adult years. She married Harold J. “Bob” Doerksen on 29 September 1957 at Pleasant Grove church in Valley Township. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2007, two months before Bob passed away.
Esther loved life on the farm. In addition to farming, she enjoyed raising peonies for over 30 years, driving a Haven school bus for 20 years and making quilts for her kids and grandkids. She was passionate about genealogy and had been researching the Westfahl family since her grade school years.
She was preceded in death by her husband Bob; her parents; a brother, Warren Westfahl; and two sisters, Dorothy Klein and Mildred Phemister.
Survivors include: five daughters—Cindy (Terry) Daly, Las Vegas; Melinda Beaty, Hutchinson; Brenda (Tim) Blackburn, Olathe, KS; Beverly Carlson, Roeland Park, KS; and Julia Doerksen, Hutchinson; five grandchildren—Tim (Renee) Wiseman, Lisa (Jason) Meissner, Andrew (Rebecca) Blackburn, Elyssa (Xavier) Gavin and Christian (Talia) Blackburn; and nine great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind her beloved dog Goldie, as well as 3-4 cats, depending on what strays show up on any given day.
Visitation will be 5-7 pm Thursday, Dec. 1, with a Celebration of Life at 11 am on Friday, Dec. 2, at Elliott Chapel with Rev. Mike Rose officiating. Casual clothing (jeans, etc.) is encouraged, as it was Esther’s dress code of choice. She wants you to go right back to work after the service. Burial will be in Valley Township Cemetery, near Haven in Reno County, following the service. Friends my sign the book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Thursday.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church or Cause for Paws in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS, 67501.