On the morning of Friday, March 18, 1927, Mr. Ben Dirksen, Jr., passed away at his home on South Cleveland street in Minster and thus there is among the men of mature age in this community a new vacancy. He was young in years when stricken by disease and had a place of responsibility among a circle of kinfolk who will face life with new issues to contemplate since he has been removed from their presence. In his family there are two children who, unfortunately, will not know the blessedness of relying on the protection of a father while they are making themselves ready for positions in the world.

Mr. Dirksen passed though a long term of illness before he finally met the grim reaper face to face in the last struggle. His condition forced him to set aside all manual labor several months ago. His body was wasted away while a cancer preyed on one of the vital organs and during the trying days he experienced the greatest suffering.

The funeral of Mr. Dirksen was held at St. Augustine's church in Minster on Monday morning was attended by local friends and many who live in outside communities. The Mass was read by Rev. Aloys Dirksen, a nephew of the deceased and a professor in the college at Collegeville, Indiana. The sermon on the occasion was delivered by Rev. Sixtus Meyer, C.PP.S., pastor. The body was buried in the local cemetery and among those who stood silently and watched it lowered to its resting place were members of the St. Boniface society, members of the citizen's fire company and members of the F.O.E. lodge, with all of which organizations he was affiliated.

Mr. Dirksen died at the age 38 years, 8 months and 11 days. He was the son of Mr. Ben (Bernard) Dirksen, Sr., and his wife, Philomena Post Dirksen, who live in Minster near the home of the deceased's family. He was born on a farm two miles south west of Minster on July 7, 1888, and he lived there with his parents until he advanced to young manhood. Among his other living relatives the following brothers and sisters, Frank Dirksen who lives west of Osgood; Anton Dirksen of Dayton; Harry of New Bremen; Ida Dirksen who makes her home with her parents.

For three years previous to his marriage to Henrietta Athmer, on June 5, 1917, he was employed at various places in the locality of his home, but immediately after that important event he entered the foundry department at Minster Machine company's factory in the city and became an iron moulder. He continued to work for this company for many years and retired only when his health failed him.

With his widow there are left in his household a daughter Clara Marie who is nine years old and a son Robert who is four years old.

{Minster Post, March 25, 1927, pg. 8.}