Funeral service for Betty L. Dirks will be Thursday, December 31, at 1:30 p.m. at Livingston
Funeral Home, Kingman, Kansas. Burial will be at the Nashville Cemetery in Nashville, Kansas.
Betty Lou (Bailey) Dirks was born December 14, 1934, in Zenda, Kansas. She lived all her life
in Kingman County. Her desire to play the piano when she was young eventually became a gift
and a talent she shared for over 50 years teaching others and sharing her talent for the United
Methodist Church and the Willowdale Catholic Church. Her talent blossomed when she
became just as well gifted at playing the organ. Something she loved to do as many times as
possible. A lost art these days. She also played and sang for numerous weddings and
funerals. She was a member of the Medicine Lodge United Methodist Church.
When Betty was still living in Zenda, she met the love of her life, Joe Dirks, and they were
married on September 28, 1952. They moved to a farm between Zenda and Nashville, Kansas,
and began their life together. Betty began working for Dr. Waylon as a receptionist in Nashville.
Of course, back then that also meant helping with patients and even at times administering
shots. Joe supported her decision to help out more on the farm and she became a homemaker.
They were blessed with two boys. Her days were filled with running errands for parts when Joe
needed them and fixing meals for all who helped on the farm. Betty could also be seen in the
stands cheering on the boys as they played in many sports and Joe refereed for many years.
Her love of playing cards is evident by the many decks of cards found throughout the house and
she took the game seriously staying up into the wee night hours to play. She was a part of a
bowling League in Pratt and made weekly trips there to meet "the girls". She loved to cook and
enjoyed trying new recipes. That love continued and recently you would find her reading
cookbooks and tearing out recipes from her magazines. Betty moved to Medicine Lodge,
Kansas, in 2011.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, James and Cora Bailey; her husband, Joe Dirks;
siblings, Jim Bailey and Joe Bailey. Those she leaves behind are sons-Kenny (Shirley) Dirks of
Omaha, NE, and Rick (Brenda) Dirks of Medicine Lodge, KS. Six grandchildren: Joe Dirks,
Adam Dirks, Dustin Dirks, Jodi (Dirks) Davis, Amber (Dirks) Younglove, Ashley (Dirks) Lazala;
thirteen great-grandchildren: Cohen Dirks, Savannah Dirks, Beckett Dirks, Joe Dirks, Lexi Dirks,
Cora Dirks, Claire Dirks, Daylynn West, Waylon Davis, Avalynn Lazala, Aiden Lazala, Alayna
Lazala, Barrett Younglove. One great-great granddaughter: Reagan West. One brother, John
Bailey, and two sisters, Barb Hawkins and Bonnie Bailey. Many nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to the Medicine Lodge United Methodist Church or the Leisure Time Center of Medicine Lodge, both in care of Livingston
Funeral Home.