Lillian Ruth Doerksen died Oct. 9, 2008. She was born in 1921 in Herbert, Sask. to Jacob and Elizabeth Doerksen. She responded to God’s call while attending Biola University in Los Angeles, Cal., and left for India in 1950. Her nearly 50 years as a missionary/educator in India saw her serve the Ramabai Mukti Mission from 1950–1986. During these years she raised 34 orphan girls and gave leadership to the publicity department and the campus school. Motivated by the birth of several deaf “grandchildren,” she founded the Maharashtra Deaf Fellowship (MDF) of India upon her retirement in 1987. Biola University honored Lillian in 2004 by awarding her the Clyde Cook presidential trophy for her outstanding missionary achievements as a graduate of their school. During her lifetime she was a member of Main Center (Sask.) MB Church as well as the Metropolitan Tabernacle in Vancouver, B.C. Predeceased by 3 siblings, Lillian is mourned by siblings Rosella Schmidt, John, Mabel (Georges) Sourisseau and Viola (Harold) Ratzlaff; most of the 34 girls in her Honeysuckle Family (Mukti); and the many deaf residents living on the four campuses of the MDF.
The Globe and Mail ran a tribute to Lillian Doerksen Nov. 18. Read it online at www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081118.OBDOERKSEN18/TPStory/
