Dillard Dean Duerksen, 86, of Valley Center, Kansas, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 13, 2026. He was born Thursday, December 28, 1939, in Hillsboro, Kansas, to Henry and Marie (Funk) Duerksen.

Dillard graduated from Newton High School with the Class of 1957. He continued his education by taking college courses at Bethel College, Emporia State University, and Wichita State University.

During his teenage years, he worked as a pinsetter at Play-Mor Lanes bowling alley, riding his bicycle from his family's home on North 10th Street in Newton.

While attending Bethel College, Dillard worked the third shift at Hesston Corporation, where he operated a lathe. It was during this time that he met Roberta “Bert” Coffman in Halstead, where she was attending the Halstead School of Nursing. They were married on January 18, 1964. Their son, David (Dave), was born in March of that same year.

Dillard enjoyed a long and successful career with Hesston Corporation, where his career spanned from Kansas to Utah and back to Kansas again. He worked for 39 years retiring in 1999 as industrial engineering group lead.

After returning to Kansas, Dillard designed the family's home west of Valley Center. He did much of the work on the house himself, including crafting the beautiful wooden railing around the living room and along the stairs of their bi-level home. He and Bert lived there for many happy years until Dillard moved to Paramount Community Living in Newton in 2023.

The family home in Valley Center was a gathering place for many holidays, birthdays, and special occasions. It was also the site of their annual New Year’s Eve celebration, where family and friends came together for cards, board games, pool, laughter, and, most importantly, good company. These gatherings created countless cherished memories that will be treasured for years to come.

Music was one of Dillard's greatest joys throughout his life. He loved to sing and was a member of the Air Capital Barbershop Chorus in Wichita for more than 20 years. He sang both in the chorus and in several quartets, including Midwest Connection, which won the Kansas state championship. One of his favorite quartet traditions was singing Valentine's Day serenades. Even while spending winters in South Texas after retirement, Dillard would often travel home for Valentine's singing and also enjoyed performing with barbershop quartets there.

Dillard was also an avid traveler and fisherman. He and Bert traveled extensively throughout the United States in several different RVs, visiting 47 of the 50 states.

Over the years, Dillard and Bert owned three different pontoon boats, providing countless opportunities for fishing, relaxing, and making memories with family and friends. Many weekends were spent at Kansas lakes, especially Marion Reservoir, where Dillard loved trolling. When grandchildren Devin and Janett came along, they became part of those treasured “long” weekends at Marion as well. During Hesston's annual two-week summer shutdowns, they often headed to Beaver Lake in Arkansas or Table Rock Lake in Missouri.

After retirement, Dillard and Bert enjoyed spending their days exploring estate sales, always on the lookout for a great bargain, and spent many winters in South Texas. Their retirement years gave them the freedom to continue traveling, fishing, and making memories with the people they loved.

Even after moving to Paramount Community Living, Dillard found a way to keep music at the center of his life. Determined to continue singing, he convinced some of his fellow residents to form a singing group. The group became known as the Paramount Singers. They performed throughout the facility during holidays and even made several “public” appearances during the facility's July 4th celebrations.

Dillard will be remembered for his strong work ethic, his creativity, his love of music and the outdoors, his adventurous spirit, and, most of all, the joy he found in sharing his time and talents with others. Whether he was singing a quartet arrangement, bargain hunting at estate sales, traveling down another highway, casting a line into a Kansas lake, or gathering family and friends around a game table, Dillard had a way of making ordinary moments into lasting memories.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 54 years, Roberta “Bert” Duerksen; his parents, Henry and Marie Duerksen; and five siblings, Aldene Stucky, Monroe Duerksen, Deloise Duerksen, Leona Arthurs, and Janice Dyck.

He is survived by his son, David (Lisa) Duerksen; grandchildren, Devin (Scott) Duerksen and Janett (Joseph) White; brother, Jay (Karen) Duerksen; and many extended family members and friends who will cherish his memory.

Dillard's voice may now be quiet, but the songs he shared, the stories he told, and the memories he created will continue to live on in all who knew and loved him.

Graveside Service will be held 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 19, at the Kechi Township Cemetery, 6523 N. Hillside, Wichita, Kansas.

Baker Funeral Home Valley Center - Condolences may be left for the family at www.bakerfhvc.com