Alvin "Dick" Diede

CLERGY
Rev. Dean Schroeder
MUSIC
Organist & Pianist ~ Sarah Schaeffer & Rachel Starwalt
Soloist ~ Sarah Schaeffer
“Beyond the Sunset”
Congregational Hymns
“Rock of Ages”
“What a Friend We Have in Jesus”
“How Great Thou Art”
CASKETBEARERS
Daryl Bierle, Bob Brown
Alan Diede, George Blacy,
Clint Starwalt, Daniel Schenkel
Alvin “Dick” Richard Diede was born on July 4, 1938 to Reinhold “Reiney” and Hilda (Schenkel) Diede on the family farm in rural Lesterville, South Dakota. Dick graduated high school and went on to work as a machinist at Freeman Co. in Yankton, South Dakota.
On April 19, 1956, Dick was united in marriage to Shirley Mae Sorensen at Elim Lutheran Church in rural Yankton, South Dakota. Together they made their home in Yankton for a short time, until job opportunities brought them to Denver, Colorado. They lived in the Denver area for 12 years as Dick worked as a machinist for Sunstrain and later as a tool and die maker for Honeywell. In 1972, they returned to the Lesterville area and began dairy farming. Following his retirement from dairy farming in the mid-80s, Dick worked for B-Y Water for many years. In the mid-2000s, the Diede’s officially retired and made their home in Lesterville.
Dick was a member of Martinus Lutheran Church in rural Utica. Through the years, he served as an elder, usher, and for the last few years as the Sunday morning greeter. Together with his wife as a duet, Dick sang at many weddings and funerals. In his sparetime, he loved fishing. He frequented Lewis and Clark Lake in Yankton, but made his best fish story in San Francisco Bay. He also enjoyed horseback riding and for a time raised Arabian horses with Shirley. For the last several decades, Dick has shared in innumerable hands of Pinochle with his Lesterville card club buddies. He was proud to share that at one time he landed the very rare Double Run hand in his card game.
Dick could be a stubborn man at times, but was always reasonable and willing to compromise when you could prove your point. He enjoyed a good laugh and was a bit of jokester. He was a man of good character who was a hardworking and loving husband and father.
For several years, Dick suffered from Parkinson’s Disease. Following a recent decline in health, Dick entered hospice care at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton and it is there that he passed away on Sunday, March 11, 2018 having attained the age of 79 years, 8 months, and 7 days.
Looking forward to the day they will see him again is his wife of nearly 62 years, Shirley Diede of Lesterville, SD; sons: Arnie (Helen) Diede of Galt, CA and Kelly Diede of Spearfish, SD; grandchildren: Adam Diede of Galt, CA and Jacqueline Ray Diede of WY; and brother Dale (Brigitta) Diede of Mission Hill, SD.
He was preceded into Heaven by his parents, sister Marge (Ron) Crosley, and brother Delmer (Ferne) Diede.
To God Be the Glory.

one hour prior to the funeral service