Sen. M.L. “Cap” Dierks

EWING — A Funeral Mass for former State Senator M.L. “Cap” Dierks, 89, Ewing, will be 10:30 a.m., Oct. 29, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Ewing, with Rev. John Norman presiding.

Burial will follow in the St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery, with Military Rites provided by the Ewing American Legion Sanders Post 214.

Visitation will be Thursday, from 5-7 p.m., at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, with a Parish Rosary at 7 p.m.

Cap died Oct. 22, 2021, at the Arbor Care Center, O’Neill.

Arrangements are entrusted to Biglin’s Mortuary, O’Neill.

Cap was born July 2, 1932, in O’Neill, to Lyle and Alys (Sanders) Dierks. He attended Saint Mary’s Academy in O’Neill and graduated from Ewing High School in 1950. He obtained his BS in animal science from UNL and was a charter member of AGS Fraternity. He served in the U.S. Air Force 1954-1956, during the Korean conflict. He then received his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Kansas State University in 1961. He met his wife, Gloria (Zoeller), Manhattan, Kan., and they married Dec. 27, 1958. Together, they have four children, Jon, Tom, Chris, and Stephanie.

As a veterinarian, Cap practiced out of O’Neill and also worked the Atkinson and Burwell livestock markets. He served on the Ewing school board, the St. Anthony’s Hospital Board and represented the 40th Legislative District for 20 years. He was a charter member of the Organization for Competitive Markets. He will be remembered most for his integrity, unwavering promotion of Nebraska agriculture and natural resources, and his staunch protection of the unborn.

Cap is survived by his wife of 62 years, Gloria; four children, Jon (Kim) Dierks, Lincoln; Tom Dierks, Lincoln; Chris (Suzanne) Dierks, Ewing; and Stephanie (Jerry) Upp, Gering; 11 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, two brothers-in-law, Gene Sprou Redmond, Wash., and Paul Waters, Stockton, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews.

Cap was preceded in death by two sisters, Mary Alys Sprout and Sandra Ann Waters.