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Dietrich Obituary
Barbara Dietrich, age 89, of Aurora, passed away Monday, March 25, 2024.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, March 28 at the Aurora United Methodist Church. Rev. Michelle Reed will officiate. Private family graveside service at the Aurora Cemetery prior to the service. No Visitation. Memorials may be made to the family to designate at a later date. Higby-McQuiston Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at higbymortuary.com.
Barbara Lee Smith Dietrich, daughter of Wesley and Mabel (Springer) Smith was born August 2, 1934 at a farm southwest of Aurora, and passed away on March 25, 2024 at Marquette, at the age of 89.
She went to District 66 through the eighth grade. Barbara graduated from Aurora High School in the class of 1951. She took normal training in high school and later had one semester of college at York. She taught rural school in District 24 and District 77 for three years.
Barbara married Lloyd Allen Dietrich on May 20, 1954 at the EUB Church in Aurora. She traveled with her husband and lived in several states until his discharge from the service. They lived on a farm southwest of Marquette for 33 years until they moved into Aurora in 1989. Lloyd passed away on November 25, 2005.
Barbara helped out on the farm raising registered hogs and was very active in 4-H, being a leader for many years.
She was baptized in the Mennonite Faith and changed her membership to the EUB which later became the United Methodist. She was a Sunday School teacher for many years and was on all of the church committees. Barbara belonged to an extension club until it became inactive. She worked at Hamilton Manor for 10 years and helped start the first Alzheimer’s Wing.
Barbara loved sewing for her family and was an avid quilter. She made a book of over 40 quilts she had made and given to her children and grandchildren. She was a teacher of all things: sewing, cooking, gardening and canning to name a few. These life skills and her love of family will be carried on for generations. Her greatest joy was having her grandchildren and great-grandchildren visiting and brightening her day.
Barbara married Dean Robert Thieszen on October 23, 2010 in Aurora. They were volunteers at the Senior Center for many years helping wherever they were needed. They enjoyed many trips together. Dean passed away on June 1, 2022.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Lloyd Dietrich and Dean Thieszen; brother, David Smith and grandson, Chad Deets.
Those left to cherish her memory are her three children, Laura (Tom) Deets of Pleasanton, Brenda (Don) Wohlgemuth of Holdrege and Barry (Rhonda) Dietrich of Marquette; 8 grandchildren, Thad (Hillary) Deets, Russell Deets, Kelsi (Brandon) Foster, Shane (Jayde) Wohlgemuth, Chase (Katie) Wohlgemuth, Joshua (Whitney) Dietrich, Gabe (Miranda) Dietrich and Paige (Jack) Godbersen and 17 great-grandchildren. Dean’s three sons, Todd (Shariel) Thieszen of McCook, Brian (Angie) Thieszen of Grand Junction, CO and Jeff Thieszen of Milford; 6 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.
