Lester J. “Les” Derksen, 83, of rural Newton, Kansas, passed away Monday, Jan. 25, 2021 at Newton Medical Center. He was born March 9, 1937 in Mountain Lake, Minnesota, the son of C. L. and Lydia M. (Pankratz) Derksen.
Les was a member of Goessel Mennonite Church. He also had a lifelong membership with the National Rifle Association (NRA), and belonged to Ducks Unlimited and the Ahearn Club at K-State.
Les worked at Harold Book and Printing in Newton and for 23 years at Hesston Corporation before he became a self-employed manufacturing sales representative, selling an assortment of off-road vehicle components since the mid 1980’s.
He was united in marriage to Mary Ellen Weldy on June 13, 1959 in Goshen, Indiana. She preceded him in death on Dec. 2, 2020.
Les is survived by his sons, Robert (Debra) Derksen of Iowa City, Iowa, and Roger (Sara) Derksen of Conroe, Texas; daughter, Ruth (Bobby) Church of Newton; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and sisters, Vernelle (Dale) Koehn of Hesston, Florence (Tom) Almond of Wichita, Jeanette Nixon of Newton and Millie Derksen of Hesston.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mary Ellen Derksen; son, Richard Derksen; and brother, LeRoy Derksen.
Cremation is planned with memorial services to be announced later. Memorial contributions may be made to Goessel Mennonite Church in care of Miller-Ott Funeral Home, PO Box 32, Hesston, KS 67062.
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