Leon Keith Dirks was born to Elmer and Katherine (Dick) Dirks on September 30, 1935 in Hutchinson. Keith passed away on March 13, 2022 at Hospice House in Hutchinson at the age of 86 years old.
They moved to Buhler, when Keith was in 5th grade. About that time his Dad took up custom harvesting. Keith became a member of Buhler Mennonite Church and was baptized on May 25, 1950. Upon graduating from Buhler High School and one year at Hutchinson Jr. College, Keith went into the 1-W service at Colorado General Hospital as an orderly for two years. During this time, he married his high school sweetheart, Della Neufeld on September 30, 1956. They were married 66 years. We were blessed with two sons, Daniel Leon and Toby K.
Custom harvesting was a natural occupation for Keith and he took his family from Buhler to Texas to Montana and back for 37 years.
In 1997 after his retirement, Keith still had wanderlust so they enjoyed summers traveling to Colorado and winters to Texas and Phoenix, Arizona.
Keith loved to visit with family and friends. He spent his spare time in his shop on Dutch Avenue tinkering or shining or fixing something of interest. “A man needs his dog house!!”
He leaves his wife, Della; sons, Dan and wife, Nicole, and Toby; granddaughter, Tiffany and husband, Nick Miller; grandson, Justin and wife, Jessie Dirks; great-grandchildren, Carson and Coen Miller, and Quinn and Greyson Dirks.
Thank you all for the prayers, hugs, words of encouragement, cards, flowers and actions of love. Keith’s family thanks Buhler Sunshine Meadows Retirement Community for all the great care and genuine love given to our parents.
Cremation is planned. Friends may come to the chapel to view pictures and sign a register book from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, March 25, 2022 at Sunshine Meadows Retirement Community. A private burial will take place at Buhler Municipal Cemetery.