Rosemary Duerksen, 93

Rosemary was born to Ted and Lenore Halburg in Los Angeles, Calif. The family settled in Redlands, Calif., where her father established a busy medical practice. Rosemary was an only child until age 13 when joined by her sister, Patricia, then 12-year-old Dick four years later. Her childhood was idyllic in the glory days of Southern California: a family cabin at Lake Arrowhead and the memory of “the air always filled with the scent of orange blossoms!” 

She attended Pacific Union College in Napa Valley, where she met and married Merlyn Duerksen. They settled in Southern California, where he attended medical school and began nursing studies. Childbearing interrupted her education: three children in 3 1/2 years (Denise, Steve and Diane). Tragically, Diane drowned at the age of 18 months. Lynette and Jon came along one and two years later; Liesl seven years after that. They spent 42 years in their home in Covina, relocating to Hayden Lake, Idaho, in 2002.

Rosemary stayed busy being the greatest mother ever, lovingly caring for her children: parties, costumes, field trips, school fundraisers, music lessons, church potlucks, volunteering for everything and driving kids everywhere. She began her wanderlust for travel by driving solo (except for the station wagon filled with her children) 9,000 miles across the country. After three subsequent trips, they’d been to every state, National Park and historical site. 

She went back to college and completed her RN; immediately putting her skills to use by volunteering for two months with the Red Cross treating critically ill Cambodian refugees on the Thai border following the Khmer Rouge genocide. She worked for 20 years as a Head Start nurse in the LA school district; she loved the families she served as her own. 

She was finally able to take her passion for travel beyond the continental U.S., eventually traveling with her husband, friends and occasional grandchildren to almost every corner of the world. Her favorite countries were Bhutan and Tibet; their last big trip at ages 87 and 92 to Dubai, Luxor, Petra and the Indian Ocean. 

She made friends easily and kept them. More than anything she loved Jesus and had a firm assurance in His grace and salvation. 

She leaves behind daughters Denise Graves (Charles), Hayden Lake, Idaho; Lynette Harris (George), San Anselmo, Calif.; Liesl Oak (John), Williston, N.D.; son Jon (Julie) Duerksen, Wildomar, Calif.; 16 grandchildren, three (almost five) great-grandchildren, her sister, Pat; nieces, nephews and good friends. She was preceded in death by her husband of 73 years in 2023, daughter Diane and son Steve. 

Her memorial service will be held Saturday, Nov. 16, at 2 p.m., at Summit N.W. Ministries, 1486 W. Seltice Way, Post Falls. www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.

    Duerksen