Merlyn Duerksen, 98

Sept. 16, 1925 — Oct. 23, 2023.  

Merlyn was born in the farmhouse built by his father, CC, and mother, Lydia, in Shafter, Calif., one of nine siblings. In 1934, the family uprooted, homesteading land in El Morro, N.M. In 1944, during World War II at age 18, he was given an “essential farm labor” deferment, but he volunteered to go anyway, serving 2 1/2 years, primarily in Augsburg, Germany, as a surgical technician in the U.S. Army.

He attended Pacific Union College in Napa Valley, Calif., where he met Rosemary Halburg. They married in 1950 as he began medical school, followed by an internship and then residency in anesthesiology. Merlyn practiced anesthesia at Inter-Community Medical Center in Covina, Calif., for 42 years. He was active in the medical community, served on the maiden voyage of The Hope Ship to Indonesia and South Vietnam in 1960 and was faithful in supporting his church, charities and mission projects. He and Rosemary moved to Hayden Lake in 2001.

It was during his service in Germany that he was introduced to his lifelong passion for skiing. He started skiing at Mammoth Mountain when it was only one rope tow! Winter vacations were spent chasing the best powder snow around the west. His summer passion was backpacking; his favorite mountain was the High Sierras. His love of mountains led to his interest in conservation issues; and despite his interest in skiing, was active in preventing the development of a ski resort on Mt. San Gorgonio. It remains a pristine wilderness to this day. The week before his death he said ‘I don’t regret one step I took in the mountains”.

He and his wife traveled the world extensively, preferring roads less traveled: Bhutan, Tibet and South Georgia Island. He “cheated death” several times, surviving a helicopter crash while skiing in Canada, a “strainer” while kayaking, and a heart attack on the Amazon River in Peru.

His “farmer” ethic remained: hard work and love of the land: his garden produce & landscaping legendary. He leaves behind his wife of 73 years, Rosemary; daughters Denise Graves (Charles), Lynette Harris (George), Liesl Oak (John); son Jon (Julie); 16 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; a sister, dozens of nieces, nephews and good friends. He was preceded in death by daughter Diane and son Steve.

A memorial will be held Saturday, Dec. 2, at 3 p.m., at Summit Northwest Ministries, 1486 W. Seltice Way, Post Falls. In lieu of flowers, donations to Union Gospel Mission. Online registry and condolences may be found at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.

    Duerksen