Louise Dirksen, 95, died Feb. 25, 2012, at Hospice House, Hutchinson. She was born Nov. 1, 1916, in Great Bend, to William Brinson and Sibyl Irene (Stout) Hitch.

Louise was a member of Hutchinson Seventh Day Adventist Church. She was a secretary at Hutchinson Community College for 20 years, retiring in 1988.

On May 30, 1935, she married John Henry Dirksen in Wichita. He died May 31, 1994.

Survivors include: son, Dr. J. William Dirksen and his wife Marlys Dirksen of Washington, Utah; two daughters, JoAn Powell and her husband Dr. Jerry Powell of Loveland, Colo. and Jan Jacobs and her husband Clark Jacobs of Hutchinson; brother, J.W. Hitch of Riverside, Calif.; sister, Mary Leuzinger of Stockton, Mo.; eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Louise was preceded in death by her husband; parents; two brothers, Brinson and Robert Hitch; and a sister, Frances Smith.

Graveside service will be 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, 2012, at Penwell-Gabel Cemetery and Mausoleum, with Pastor Jerry Nowack officiating. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday and 9 a.m. to noon Monday with the family to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hutchinson Seventh Day Adventist Church, in care of the mortuary.