Martha Mae Dirks, 97 Martha Mae Dirks, 97

Martha Mae Dirks was born June 25, 1922, to Charles E. and Gail Day Butts in Elkhart, Kansas. She peacefully passed away in the early morning on April 21, 2020, at Sunset Home, Bonners Ferry, Idaho at 97 years of age.

Her family moved to Bonners Ferry in 1931. She was 9 years old and rode most of the way in a rumble seat over mostly gravel roads.

She attended the small country Sheridan School and later boarded in town while attending Bonners Ferry High School.

Earlier in her life she had felt the burden of her sins and felt she had an experience with the Lord. When the Mennonites came to this area they held their first services in the Sheridan School, and Mother attended, sometimes with others of her family. She gave her heart to the Lord and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite on Feb. 10, 1941, by Minister Frank Wenger. She was a first convert from the community and she remained true to her vows to the end.

She met our dad, Noah Dirks, and they were married at the same school on June 1, 1941. Theirs was the first wedding in this young congregation.

A few years after their marriage our parents moved to a farm in the Kootenai Valley where they lived for the next 28 years, crossing the river by ferry for 24 years until a bridge was built. Life was not always easy, but Mom faced the difficulties with courage and faithfulness. Some of the challenges were: losing their home and belongings to fire, multiple floods, and losing two infant children. Mom drove a small school bus for 13 years with Dad filling in when he had time. Our parents opened their home to several foster children. Two of them, Delphine Isadore and Emily Mikelson, spent considerable time with them leaving when our father became ill.

In 1970, Dad’s health begin to decline and Mother faithfully cared for him, learning to run a kidney dialysis machine at home. In 1973 they moved to a home by Moyie Springs. Dad passed away Aug. 8, 1975, after 34 years together, leaving mother a widow for the next 45 years.

Mom went to work after Dad passed away, working at the library, the Extended Care Wing of the local hospital and later doing home health.

Mom had a wide range of interests. Loving to read, she read her Bible through every year. She enjoyed working outdoors, raising beautiful flowers and a bountiful garden which she shared generously with others. Quilting was a favorite past time and she created many beautiful quilts. She was very interested in her family’s doings and her grandchildren enjoyed her entertaining letters.

In 1993 she moved to a home on Highway 95, where she spent 20 years. Seven years ago, in the spring 2013, she moved across the highway and became the first resident of the new Sunset Home. She was happy there and appreciated the secure atmosphere and loving care.

We, as a family, were thankful for Mom’s acceptance of the limitations old age brought her. We appreciate her example and faithfulness. We will miss her sense of humor, freely given advice, and the intense interest she showed in life and happenings clear to the end.

Left to cherish fond memories are seven children, Wilma and Lawrence Friesen, Steinbach, Manitoba; Jeraldine and Odes Unruh, Bonners Ferry, Idaho; Wesley and Corinne Dirks, Inman, Kansas; James and Martha Dirks, Creston, British Columbia; Linda and Delmar Ensz, Inman, Kansas; Elizabeth and John Holdeman, and Alice and Glen Isaac, Bonners Ferry; 29 grandchildren, 108 great-grandchildren and 20 great-great-grandchildren; three sisters-in-law, Sandra Butts, Indianapolis, Ind., and Doris Jantz and Opal Dirks, Bonners Ferry; and many nieces, nephews and friends. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, one infant son and one infant daughter, two sisters, a brother and one son-in-law.

A small family service was held at Mountain View Mennonite Church on April 25, 2020. Officiating ministers were Roger Unruh, David Isaac, Frank Mastre and Shane Ensz. Burial was in the adjoining church cemetery.