Jeanne Dolores Dietrich

Jeanne Dolores (Slagle) Dietrich, 95, passed away with family by her side on December 27th,

2023 in Denver, Colorado.

Jeanne Dolores (Slagle) Dietrich was born on May 8th,1928 in Oberlin, Kansas to Harry Clayton

Slagle and Josephine Clara (Grice) Slagle. As a child she had the good fortune of living near

her grandparents and used their proximity to her advantage whenever she wanted maple stick

donuts for breakfast. In Oberlin she made her first best friend, whose family owned the local

hotel. The two of them spent many hours snooping around the kitchens and playing with the

dumbwaiter. In 1940 Jeanne’s family moved to Scottsbluff, Nebraska where she graduated from

Scottsbluff High School in 1946 and then attended Scottsbluff Junior College, receiving an

Associate’s Degree in Education in 1948. In those years, on Saturday nights, she would hitch a

ride with her friends to the neighboring town of Mitchell to dance to the big bands of the day,

including, at least once, The Glenn Miller Band - or so the story goes. While in high school and

junior college she worked in the ticket booth at the local movie theater and one evening she sold

a ticket to a young college student recently home from the war. She thought he was handsome

and set her mind to getting to know him.

On January 30, 1948 she married Ernest Stanley (Stan) Dietrich in Scottsbluff. The newlyweds

moved into a small apartment in Lincoln, Nebraska near the university where Stan was finishing

his degree in Geology. Jeanne was a fast and skilled typist and used those skills to support

herself and her new husband. Jeanne typed Stan’s thesis for his Master’s degree. Later, she

typed her children’s school papers as well. She was an excellent proofreader and spell checker.

Through Stan’s work as a petroleum geologist they moved many times. From Nebraska they

moved to Shreveport, Louisiana. There, through sheer spunk and tenacity, she taught herself to

drive. She did pretty well except the nuances of shifting gears eluded her - a problem she

solved by only driving in second gear. One day, with her husband out of town, she drove herself

to the DMV and got her driver’s license. Their next transfer was to Abilene, Texas, followed by

Roswell, New Mexico and then back to Texas, Houston this time, then Lafayette, Louisiana.

Finally, in 1968 they moved to Casper, Wyoming where she remained until July of 2022 when

she relocated to Denver, Colorado.

In Casper, Jeanne was active in GeoWives, holding the office of president as well as other roles

throughout her long tenure in the organization. She volunteered at her children’s schools and

helped lead a Brownie troop. She was active in both Episcopal churches in town; first at St.

Stephen's and later at St. Mark’s. As a member of the Altar Guild, she spent hours cleaning

candle holders and soaking candle wax out of vestments and altar linens. She participated in a

variety of clubs, including bridge club, sewing club, gourmet club, Petroleum Ladies, Red

Hatters, and probably others as well. She did not join the local hiking or skiing clubs, because in

her opinion, the best way to increase her heart rate was reading a good murder mystery. She

did love outdoor picnics on Casper Mountain. Every fall weekend for many years she would

head up the mountain with her children, husband, and a full picnic basket to cut firewood for the

winter.

Jeanne orchestrated countless meals for her family and friends. Each meal was, more often

than not, delicious. She rarely turned down a dessert and particularly loved lemon meringue pie.

She did not like fish or bananas, but loved fruit cake and the odd Jell-O dish full of shredded

carrots, pineapple bits, and mini-marshmallows. Go figure.

In the years after her husband died, she steadfastly attended each grandchild’s college

graduation, undeterred by the numerous travel hassles she inevitably ran into. She was devoted

to her family and not much could get in the way of her showing up for life’s important events.

Throughout her life, she considered herself to be a very practical woman, which was never more

evident than when her time came on December 27, 2023. She left quickly and without any fuss

– at the end of the year, no less, saving herself from another year of taxes.

Jeanne charmed everyone who knew her, especially in her later years. She kept her sense of

humor and irascible character until the end. She is survived by her three children: Eric (Tara

Hall) of Binghamton, NY, Lisa Dietrich (Bill Lape) of Lake Bluff, IL, and Lori Dietrich-Sayler (Mike

Sayler) of Denver, CO; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Her brother, husband,

mother, and father preceded her in death. Her cremains will be interred at St. Mark’s Episcopal

Church Columbarium in Casper, WY. Her memorial service will also be held at St. Mark’s on

May 4th, 2024 at 11:00 am. 

Donations may be made to Casper College Arts at

https://caspercollegearts.cc/patrons/ . Please write Jeanne’s name in the comment box.