A Funeral Mass for former State Senator ML 'Cap' Dierks, age 89, of Ewing, NE will be 10:30 AM Friday, October 29, 2021 at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Ewing, NE 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 on Thursday, October 28 from 5 to 7 PM at St. Peter's Catholic Church with a Parish Rosary at 7 PM. Cap passed away on Friday, October 22, 2021 at the Arbor Care Center in O'Neill, NE. Arrangements are entrusted to Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill.

Cap was born on July 2, 1932 in O'Neill, NE 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 US Air Force from 1954 to 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) of Manhattan, KS and they married on December 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 of Lincoln, Tom Dierks of Lincoln, Chris (Suzanne) Dierks of Ewing, and Stephanie (Jerry) Upp of Gering; 11 grandchildren, Emily (Jordan) Bart, Nicholas Dierks, Brianna Dierks, Nathan (Chelsey) Dierks, Alex Dierks, Brady (Ashley) Dierks, Regan Dierks, Rachel Dierks, Kristen (Brett) Klein, Megan Upp, and Kyle Upp; four great grandchildren, two brothers-in-law, Gene Sprout of Redmond, WA and Paul Waters of Stockton, CA, and several nieces and nephews.

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

The family wishes to extend sincere thanks to the staff at Evergreen Assisted Living and Arbor Care Center for their care and concern for Cap and his family.