Dale Allen DeWerffHesston, KS

Dale Allen DeWerff, 72, of Hesston, Kansas, entered his eternal glory on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at his home.

He was born on November 15, 1953, in Great Bend, Kansas, to the late Harold Eggert DeWerff and Ruth Rebecca Koch DeWerff. Dale was raised in Ellinwood, Kansas, where he graduated from High School in 1971.

Dale attended Garden City Community Jr College in1971 where he met and then married Karen Kay Amos on May 26, 1973. God blessed them with four children: Dawn, Derek, Kim and Keri.

Dale worked with his dad starting D & D Fertilizer Co, Ellinwood, KS: He also worked for Great Bend Industries, Doonan Truck (welder), and Davis Mud & Chemical Co. (Mud Engineer), Great Bend, KS

Dale was a faithful and committed husband. Marriage was not easy, but when it got tough because of unhealed trauma from before marriage, he led Karen in turning their marriage over to God and they walked through healing together.

He was called into ministry by God in 1988 and attended North American Baptist Seminary (NABS) in Sioux Falls, South Dakota (July 1989 – May 1992). Dale graduated with a Master of Divinity and received honors in the field of Biblical Studies. He received his ordination to the work of The Gospel Ministry at First Baptist Church in Ellinwood, Kansas.

Dale served four churches:

Sierra Heights Baptist Church, Renton WA (Senior Pastor)

Grace Community Church, Great Bend, KS (Associate Pastor)

Memory Lane Baptist Church, Wichita, KS (Senior Pastor)

Northside Christian Fellowship, Wichita, KS (Interim/Senior Pastor)

Because the churches he served in Wichita were struggling, he became a tentmaker Pastor also working fulltime to support his family. He was self-employed as a carpenter, building fences and decks to supplement income to provide for his family while pastoring. Later, Dale worked at Love Box Company and then at POET Ethanol Products. He retired from POET after 14 years as their Safety Transportation Coordinator.

Dale was an Adjunct Professor at World Impact, while Dr Don Davis and Terry Cornett were finishing writing the Capstone Curriculum for The Urban Ministry Institute (TUMI). He established Agape Training Institute, a Satellite School for TUMI in 2013 and graduated eight students, including his wife, Karen. He also was a Dean for World Impact’s Church Planting school for several years.

Dale was a past member of Christian Motorcycle Association and served as Chaplin of The Jesus Team.

Dale was also involved in ministry in non-staff positions such as an elder, teacher, and small Group Leader at:

GraceFirst Church, Wichita

Genesis Church, Wichita and El Faro, Wichita (Spanish)

Lighthouse Community Church, Oaklawn Wichita

Coastal Oaks Church, Rockport, TX

Dale supported his wife, Karen, in her ministry calling at Hope Ranch for Women. He graciously responded and served when she would volunteer him for jobs at the Residential Home.

Dale loved God and studying God’s Word. He would refer to himself as an Amateur Theologian. He read Biblical Commentaries for enjoyment. He was passionate about sharing the gospel of Jesus, making disciples and teaching truth. He wanted to see people walk in healthy relationships and would offer counseling to couples and men throughout his ministry.

He loved his family and would do anything for his 15 grandchildren. In 2010 he and Karen moved to the country, not for a fancy house but for 5 acres for his grandchildren to ride go-carts, minibikes and 4wheelers.

Dale was a truth teller. He lived his life with a “no compromise” approach to the gospel and the Word of God. Sometimes he would be perceived as not caring or harsh but in reality, he loved deeply and had a teddy bear heart. He would consistently pray by name for family, friends, the church and world.

Dale loved motorcycles, golfing, fishing, hunting, boating, kayaking, spending time with family and hot weather. He loved spending winters in TX in their RV. Learning to surf fish from the beach in Port Aransas was a new adventure.

Favorite motorcycle rides included Hawaii, Yellowstone, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas.

Favorite golfing was a tournament win with his brothers, Dallas and Dennis, his sister, Carol and his wife, Karen at the North American Baptist Seminary Graduation weekend. Other favorites: with his brother, Dallas at Lake Texoma and at the Dallas Cowboys golf club in Grapevine, TX; with Karen at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL and at The Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio, San Antonio, TX; with grandson Wesley at Colbert Hills Golf Course in Manhattan, KS; and with family and friends at Hesston Golf Course, Hesston, KS.

Dale’s bucket list included traveling to our National Parks to see God’s amazing creation. A trip was planned to visit Yellowstone. On July 6th, Dale and Karen headed out on the long drive to Yellowstone and Whitefish, Montana. Dale had been experiencing back pain, and it was a difficult trip. Upon return, Dale visited his doctor and after testing, was diagnosed with inoperable Pancreatic Cancer. It would be their last vacation holding precious memories for Karen.

In his last days, he was cared for in his home by his family and Harry Hynes Hospice. He was surrounded by his family to the very end of his time on Earth. His family extends gratitude to his caregiving team including doctors and Harry Hynes Hospice staff.

Dale is survived by wife, Karen Kay DeWerff, Hesston, Kansas; children, Dawn A Fair and husband, Jason, Wichita, Kansas; Derek A DeWerff and wife, Angie, Wichita, Kansas; Kim K. DeWerff and wife, Victoria, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada; Keri K Williams, Wichita, Kansas; 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Dale was preceded in death by his parents; twin brothers, Floyd DeWerff and Lloyd DeWerff; and sister Carol Clawson; twin brothers, Dennis DeWerff and Dallas DeWerff.

Celebration of life service is scheduled for Friday, October 2nd at 2 pm at Grace Crossing Church in Moundridge, Kansas, with Pastor Josh Gill officiating. A light meal will be provided following the service. There will not be a graveside service. Family welcomes flowers and suggests that donations may be made to Grace Crossing Church and can be sent to Miller-Ott Funeral Home, P.O. Box 32 Hesston, Kansas 67062.