Marie Elizabeth Krehbiel

Marie Elizabeth Krehbiel was born April 3, 1922, in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, to Ellen and Henry Dirks. She had one brother, A.W. “Bill” Dirks. At the age of 11 Marie and Bill’s mother passed. Henry, now a single father during the Great Depression, was unable to keep and take care of his 2 children. Although they lived in Saskatchewan, the Dirks family was originally from and mostly located in the Moundridge area. Henry had a sister in Moundridge - Helen, and her husband Peter Dick. They took in Marie and Bill until they graduated from High School and were old enough to go to college or to be married. The Dick’s farm was about a mile south of Pine Village, on N. Halstead Road. Marie married Albert Ewy in 1939. For a short time they lived with Helen and Peter, but were soon able to move onto a farm Northwest of Hesston, just off of Old Highway 81. There they had 4 children - Earl, Jerry, Shirley, and Arlen. They were on the farm until all of the children had matured and left to create their own families. At that time they built a home in a new Moundridge development “up on the hill,” on Park Court. Albert and Marie lived there until Albert’s retirement, then downsized and moved into a small duplex in Moundridge near the Moundridge Manor. Albert and Marie enjoyed 62 years of marriage until 2001 when Albert passed. In the years after the farm, Marie had several jobs she was particularly proud of. She worked in a variety of areas including sales, insurance, and as a nurse’s aide. She was a secretary at the Newton Court House. And she sold World Book Encyclopedias for quite a few years, earning awards and trips for her salesmanship. In 2002 Marie married C.J. Krehbiel, and they moved into an apartment within Pine Village. Marie and C.J. had 5 years of marriage before C.J. passed in 2007. Marie had a deep love for music. There was always a piano or organ at the house, and many times Marie and the children made music together. Marie was in choirs and bands, playing the piano, organ, choir bells, the harmonica, and the autoharp. The autoharp kept her musically active late into her life as she played with a group at Pine Village until just a few years ago. At Pine Village Marie kept herself busy with a number of activities. There was the band she played with, and a group that did dramatic readings of short plays - at Pine Village, and elsewhere including Bethel College. She loved the weekly bingo games at Pine Village. If she won a round of bingo and the candy bar prize, you were certain to be given the candy bars to take home when visiting. Marie is preceded in death by her husbands. Her 4 children - Earl, Jerry, Shirley, and Arlen. Their spouses Ruth Ewy and Walt Wenger. 1 grandchild, James. Marie’s brother Bill Dirks and his wife June. Marie is survived by her daughter-in-law Karen Ewy, 7 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren. Recently Marie shared that her philosophy of staying energized and happy was to “be curious about everything, but don’t worry about anything.” Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 15, 2025 at the Pine Village Chapel. Burial will take place at Mound Township Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Moundridge United Methodist Church in care of Moundridge Funeral Home, PO Box 410, Moundridge, KS 67107.

Marie Elizabeth Krehbiel

April 3, 1922 - February 28, 2025