Dorothy Rebecca (Bliss) Dirksen

Rebecca was born to Frank J. Bliss and Mildred V. Edmonds Bliss on December 15, 1941. She grew up with her parents and younger brother, Frank Jr., in Kansas City, Missouri, and graduated High School in 1959. She moved to Ann Arbor Michigan to be married to Lowell K. Dirksen on October 28, 1960. After a few years of traveling to Arizona and South Carolina for Lowell’s job as a college professor, they moved to Topeka, Kansas in 1965, just in time for the 1966 tornado. She and Lowell were active in their local church, supporting missionaries and serving the community throughout their entire lives. They built their family home with their own hands and lived there for 41 years raising cattle and vegetable gardens in their free time. Lowell and Rebecca were blessed with two children, Michael and Amy and were very involved in their lives as well as their grandchildren's lives. Rebecca worked as an Interpreter with USD 501 in Topeka, Kansas for many years and retired in 2007.

Upon retirement, she enjoyed raising and showing high quality show beagles - achieving her lifelong dream of showing one of her beagles herself at the national Eukanuba Dog Show twice. Just prior to her death, one of the beagles she co-owned was listed as 4th in the nation. She also continued to interpret in her local church as well as travel with Lowell until his death and then on with her friends on many trips. In 2011, they sold their family home in Topeka and relocated to Fort Worth, Texas, where after Lowell’s death, she became very involved with her children and grandchildren, her friends, her church – First Baptist Church Saginaw, and TCC’s Senior Education Program. She was an avid fan of high school and college gymnastics, watching both of her grandchildren compete every year in both arenas. Rebecca was a dedicated member of the TCC Northwest Campus Senior Education Program. She began taking classes in 2012, shortly after that she started teaching classes and joined the Senior Advisory Council. She taught educational and entertaining classes such as Sign Language, Pinochle, American Mah Jongg and Canasta. Rebecca served as Secretary and Officer of the SAC for many years. She worked on the Curriculum committee and the Curriculum work team with several other campuses. Rebecca had a lot of wisdom and was respected in her role with the Council. They will always remember the fun times, laughter and her quick wit.

Rebecca was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and dear friend. She loved to laugh, play games, spend time with her loved ones and her dogs. She was silly, generous, stubborn and above all – faithful. But nothing was as important as her relationship with the Lord and how much she wanted others to know more about Him. While, she will be dearly missed here, we know that for a woman who was directionally challenged, she now knows where she is and exactly how she got there.

She is preceded in death by, Frank J Bliss (father); Mildren V. Edmonds Bliss (mother); Frank J Bliss Jr. (brother); and Lowell K Dirksen (husband)

Rebecca is survived by Michael Dirksen (son); Amy Naukam (daughter); Jeff Naukam (son-in-law); and Tyler Naukam and Eryn Naukam (grandchildren).

Rebecca's Celebration of Life will be held at First Baptist Church of Saginaw, 300 Old Decatur Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76179 on Sunday January 9, 2022 at 2 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a memorial donation to "The Chosen" (https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen/pif) or to the International Mission Board (https://www.imb.org/generosity/) in support of our missionaries.

"I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure." Psalm 16:7-9

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