Cecelia was born on June 22, 1913 to Nicholas & Mary (Irsfeld) Benning on the family farm in Hartford Township & she attended country school through the 6th grade.  Cecelia married Bill Dirkes at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Browerville on June 19, 1934.  After their marriage Bill and Cecelia farmed by Long Prairie for a short time and in 1938 they bought a farm in Iona Township and farmed there until they moved into Browerville in 1980.  Cecelia enjoyed gardening, playing cards, baking coffee cakes and loved being with her grandkids and great grandkids.  She was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church in Browerville, and Christian Women.

Cecelia is survived by her children:  Eva (Roy) Buhl of Browerville, Fred Dirkes of Crystal, Mary Doelz of Minneapolis, Arlene (Jim) Woeste of Long Prairie, Joe (Jan) Dirkes of Browerville; brother, Louis (Irene) Benning of Browerville, 13 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren. 

Cecelia is preceded in death by her parents, husband Bill, brother John and two sisters Mary Bednarz and Eileen Goike.