Elizabeth Derksen

Elizabeth Luella was born in 1923 to Johann and Maria Nickel in Arkadak, a Mennonite colony
in the province of Saratov in Russia. She was the eighth of nine children. In 1925 the family
migrated to Canada, settling in Main Centre, Saskatchewan. Elizabeth loved literature,
especially poetry, and music, interests that sustained her throughout her life. She met Henry
Derksen at the Swift Current Bible School, where both were students. They married on October
4, 1942. Elizabeth and Henry farmed near Main Centre until 1984, when they moved to an
acreage outside Swift Current. Ultimately they joined the Bentley retirement community in 2007.
After Henry’s death in 2008, Elizabeth moved to Alberta to live with her daughter Betty and sonin-
law Ed for 17 months. Thereafter, she took up residence in Riverview Estates in Swift
Current. Elizabeth was a preacher’s daughter, and the faith she embraced profoundly informed
her values, her view of the world, and her relationships with others. She touched many lives. To
many of us, she was the very embodiment of love.
Elizabeth was predeceased by her husband Henry, her parents Johann and Maria, her eight
siblings Mary, Katherine, Margaret, Anne, Nettie, John, Anton and Jake, grandchildren Jason
and Connie, and a great-grandson Brady. She will live on in the hearts of her children Shirley
(Hildor) Braun, Betty (Ed) Nickel, John (Kristen) Derksen, Hazel (Ray) Scheirer, Judy (Bernie)
Friesen, Dennis (Vicki) Derksen, and Faith (Dennis) Klassen, sixteen grandchildren and 29
great-grandchildren.
The family is grateful to the Swift Current Funeral Home for funeral arrangements. 

The Funeral Service for Mrs. Elizabeth Derksen of Swift Current will take place on Saturday, September 19th at 3:00 p.m., from the Bridgeway Community Church with Pastor Bob Cappelle officiating.

The Private Family Interment Service for Mrs. Elizabeth Derksen will take place at the Capeland Cemetery near Main Centre.

Those wishing to pay their respects may do so Friday evening at 8:00 p.m. at the Swift Current Funeral Home.

In Memory of Elizabeth, donations to the Westbank Bible Camp or to Gideons International would be appreciated by the family.

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