Arnie Derksen

Arnie Derksen was born in Saskatchewan, Canada, January 6th, 1932, to David and Mary Derksen. He went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, December 5, 2020. Arnie was preceded in death by his parents, David and Mary Derksen, stepmother Del Derksen, and sister Esther Russell.Arnie loved music, and at the age of 7, his father made a cardboard guitar with sewing thread for strings. Arnie tuned the thread, and played until his strings broke, which was often. An uncle then gave him a ukulele when he saw Arnie’s love of music. When he was 10, his father gave him a sway back mare which he sold for $10 and purchased his first real guitar for $7 and he used the remaining money to order guitar books. He taught his family to sing parts and they ministered on the street corners of Nipawin, Canada, on Saturday nights with the Salvation Army.Arnie grew up in a Mennonite Christian home, and at 20, joined a trio who toured with some evangelists. He married and had his daughter, Brenda, and son Lonnie. After some disappointments with the lives of the evangelists, he decided to go to the entertainment field full time. He was known as Canada’s Elvis Presley, and sang on Canadian radio and television with Vic Siebert and the Sons of the Saddle. He later moved Nashville, and was signed to Decca Records. As his career gained momentum, he began entertaining in Las Vegas, Reno, Tahoe, Florida, and across the United States and Canada. When his act broke up in Las Vegas, he moved to Washington. During this time, he began searching in Eastern Religions and Scientology for Truth and Love. In 1974, his agent booked him in Flagstaff, Arizona. Arnie went to a bookstore, and in the Philosophy section, he found a small book, The Runner’s Bible. The book had scriptures in it, and said to substitute the word “God” for Love and “Jesus” for truth. Those were the two things he was seeking. He would sit on the edge of the Grand Canyon and read the book over and over. When he left Arizona to return to Washington, God’s presence filled his car in Mount Lassen Park. He stopped and got out of his car, and knelt by a log, and received Jesus Christ as his Savior. His life was forever changed! He told his lifelong friend, Carrol Forseth, about the change in his life. Carrol introduced him to his brother, a pastor at a local church. Arnie was mentored by these Godly men. Since the only thing he knew to do was sing and play the guitar, he learned a new repertoire praising his Lord and Savior. Arnie attended Bible school, completing his Bachelor’s of Religious Education. In 1976, he met his wife, Indy, and they were married in August of that same year. That began a lifetime of serving the Lord together. Their son, Johnathan was born in 1979. Arnie would become the Minister of Music in Santa Ana, California and pastor churches in California, Indiana, Illinois, and assisted teaching God’s word where ever he had an opportunity. He and Indy traveled across the United States and Canada ministering in Word and song.In the 1980’s Arnie began providing music therapy throughout California. He preformed up to 500 bookings a year until he was 85 years old. He loved to share music for the elderly and prayed with many of the residents in the facilities he visited. Arnie and Indy retired to Prescott Valley, Arizona, in August 2018. They were blessed to find the Potter’s House as their church family.Arnie is survived by his wife of 44 years, Indy, daughter Brenda (Bill) Becker, sons Lonnie (Jan) Derksen, Jonathan (Antoinette) Derksen, sister, Adena (Bob) Paget, grandsons Michael (Shawn) Staton, Daemon Derksen, granddaughters Hannah and Joy Derksen, four great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.A scripture that Arnie lived by was Psalm 119:165-168. “Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble. Lord, I hope for your salvation, and I do Your commandments. My soul keeps Your testimonies, and I love them exceedingly. I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, for all my ways are before You." Service will be Saturday, December 19, at 10am at the Potter’s House. 5195 N. State Route 89, Prescott, Az 86301