BEN DUERFELDT
1933-2023
Ben Duerfeldt, 89, much loved husband, father, grandpa, pastor and friend, passed away Thursday Jan. 12, 2023, at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
He loved his family and his church. He was gifted as a musician and blessed many of us with his voice--singing at weddings, funerals, Arts in the Park and his church choir. He performed over 1,000 funerals and over 750 weddings, including those of his children and grandchildren.
Ben was born June 17, 1933, to Floyd and Edna Duerfeldt on a farm near Nemaha.
He attended a rural school district and graduated from Nemaha High School in 1950. He received a bachelor’s degree from Peru State College in 1954, another bachelor’s from Manhattan Christian College (MCC) in 1957 where he also taught from 1954 to 1963 and a master’s degree in music education from Kansas State University in 1958.
Ben was married to Carol McKee in Pawnee City on June 27, 1954. They had three children, Dan, Kristin Rogers and David; and eight grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
Ben was a pastor of several small congregations while teaching at MCC and was minister at First Christian Church in Manhattan, KS, from 1965 to 1990, during which time he served on the Regional Board of the Christian Church in Kansas and on the General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He was granted an honorary doctorate from Phillips University in 1984.
Locally, Ben served as police chaplain, served with United Way, chairing the drive in 1986, was a long-time participant in the ministerial association, was on the citizens advisory committee for the Chamber of Commerce, and on the boards of Douglas Center, Red Cross, the Halfway House and Crime Stoppers.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Hobart Duerfeldt in 1968, and by his daughter Kristin Rogers in 2019.
Survivors include his wife Carol; two sons: Dan Duerfeldt and wife Sherry, and David Duerfeldt and wife Lisa; sonin- law Rusty Rogers; eight grandchildren: Josh Duerfeldt (Kari), Matt Duerfeldt (Shayla), Luke and Jacob Duerfeldt, Kayla Russell (Michael), Nicki Duerfeldt, Adam Bolan and Tana Parker (Chad); and nine great-grandchildren: Kori, Addy, Nora, Aaron, Mason, Macy, Marshall, Max and Mick.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, at Yorgensen-Meloan- Londeen Funeral Home.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 3, at the First Christian Church, 3001 Grand Mere Parkway, Manhattan, KS. The service may be viewed online by going to: https://youtube.com/@ fccmanhattan5794 or by going to the First Christian Church website at https://www.fccmanhattan. org/ and clicking on watch on the homepage.
Online condolences may be left for the family through the funeral home website at www. ymlfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan- Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.