After an extended illness Diane passed away peacefully, comforted by family at her side on March 26, 2022 in Redmond.

Diane was born Marilyn Diane White in Spokane, Wash., on July 26, 1932 to Wayne and LaVerne White. The family moved to Vancouver, Wash. before her high school days. Diane graduated from Vancouver High School in 1950. 

She went on to earn an Associate of Arts Degree from Clark College. She studied Business and Spanish, joined many clubs, including Drama and Canterbury, and lettered in GAA. She was Assistant Editor of the High School Newspaper and also edited for her College Newspaper. 

Diane married Richard (Dick) Denstedt  in Vancouver on July 5, 1952. They moved to Seneca (in the middle of nowhere). Three years later the family moved to Burns, where Dick worked for Edward Hines Lumber Company until his retirement. During her many years in Burns she kept busy. She worked for the Burns School district. She served as Executive Secretary for Blue Sage Ministries, St. Andrews Episcopal and Pioneer Presbyterian Church.

Diane was interested in Social Justice, Human Rights, and Common Ground. She taught Sunday School, Bible School, Brownies/Girl Scouts and Cub/Boy Scouts. She belonged to and volunteered for Eastern Star, Rebeccas, HHope, Habitat for Humanity, the Women’s Shelter, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, and the Senior Center among others.

Diane loved to travel and meet new people. Over the years she and Dick traveled north into British Columbia, south to Mexico, to Yellowstone, and all the western States. They enjoyed the Steens Mtns, snowmobiling, and camping. She traveled for voluntary meetings, to visit family and for any other excuse she could find.

Diane had a great sharp sense of humor and loved to laugh, always looking for humor in life. She was an avid reader and loved books of all kinds. She wanted to help people, especially the poor, the hungry, and the displaced.

She was preceded in death by her husband of fifty years, Richard (Dick) Denstedt; her parents, Wayne and LaVerne White; and her brother, Dwayne White.

She is survived by her three children, Audrey Hurlburt, Walter (Dee) Denstedt, Anita (Larry) Wolf; her granddaughters, Kathi, Jenni, and Lauri; great-grandson, Alec; niece, three nephews, and many friends in Burns and Hines as well as around Oregon, through all the organizations that she enjoyed.

A Celebration of Diane’s life will be held at a later date.