Roberta "Bert" Duerksen

VALLEY CENTER-Duerksen, Roberta "Bert" 78, of Valley Center, died Nov. 26, 2018. She was born Sept. 14, 1940, in Pittsburg, Ks to James & Gladys (Smith) Coffman. She attended Valley Center Schools. After high school she attended Wichita University at the demand of her father. After a back porch talk he relented and she went to Halstead School of Nursing in 1961. She took a break to have her son, David, and returned to graduate in 1965. She met her husband, Dillard of Newton, one evening when she and some classmates were walking down Main St in Halstead. She fell in love at first sight with his Turquoise 1960 Ford Starliner and then eventually him. She had a rewarding career as a registered nurse. First working at Axtell Hospital in Newton and then the Psychiatric Ward at St. Francis Hospital. They moved to Logan, Utah in 1968 when Dillard was transferred there by Hesston Corporation. She was a cardiology nurse for Dr. Sorenson in Logan, Utah. It turned out to be a small world when Roberta & Dillard's Cardiologist, Dr. Hussam Farhourd, told her that his professor in college was Dr. Sorenson at Utah University. They returned to Kansas in 1973 and lived a short time in Wichita before building a house on the Little Arkansas river west of Valley Center. She went back to St. Francis Hospital to work where she worked nights as a charge nurse and eventually worked PRN in the Orthopedic and Neurology departments for 29 years. While working she also volunteered with Dr. Robert Daniels and the American Red Cross Valley Center blood drives. When she wasn't working she was participating in one way or another in her favorite pastime of music. She was avid piano player and singer. She played a Baldwin Spinet and an antique white baby grand piano. To feed her pastime she collected sheet music. It is estimated to total over 25,000 pieces. She sang in the Valley Center Sweet Adelines Chorus and the Swheatland Special Quartet with her sister Carolyn. If she wasn't singing herself she was supporting Dillard in his barbershop singing endeavors. She was in several Valley Players performances directed by Dean Dellinger. She and Dillard also liked to travel. They have been to every one of the continental 48 states except Wisconsin. She collected shot glasses from many of the places they traveled to. Her love of turquoise was not just limited to a certain 1960 Ford either. She collected turquoise jewelry too numerous to count and her wardrobe is entirely Turquoise. After her retirement she and Dillard became active estate sale shoppers. They also continued to camp in their motor home with the Roving Good Sams camping club and "snowbird" in Harlingen, Tx. She was often heard telling people how proud she was of her son (Dave), Daughter-in-law (Lisa) and grandchildren (Devin & Janett). She was always spending time with her family, especially her nieces and nephews. She also enjoyed planning family get togethers to cookout, hunt Easter eggs, or make Christmas candy. She was preceded in death by her parents and survived by her husband Dillard of 54 years and five siblings Carolyn Eastman, Alan Coffman, Dale Coffman, Byron Coffman, and Barbara Coffman. Visitation 5-7 p.m., Friday, November 30 at Baker Funeral Home Valley Center. Services will be 10 a.m., Saturday, December 1 at Calvary Baptist Church, 320 N. Sheridan, Valley Center. Graveside at Kechi Township Cemetery, 6523 N. Hillside, Wichita. Condolences may be left at www.bakerfhvc.com