Diane Elaine Josties Thompson

Diane Thompson
Diane Thompson

Diane Elaine Josties Thompson, 79, of Amarillo, TX died on Saturday, September 14, 2019.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, September 19, 2019 at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, located at 3500 S.  Bowie, with Pastors Wendi Gordon and Steve Brauner officiating. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall. Interment will be at a later date at Mountain View Funeral Home in Lakewood, Washington.

Diane was born April 7, 1940 in Tacoma, Washington to Harry and Martha Josties. Diane was baptized on September 29, 1940 and confirmed on May 23, 1954. Diane graduated from Lincoln High School in 1958, and she married Dale Thompson in 1960.  She began pursuing her nursing degree at Northwest Texas Hospital School of Nursing and received her RN certification. In 1970 she was awarded the Kappa Theta Phi Pin, recognizing her academic excellence. She extended her studies at West Texas State University and earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with a 4.0 grade point earning the distinguished achievement of the President’s Honor Roll in 1979.  Due to her superior scholastic achievement while maintaining a balance between her family, schooling and work life, she was awarded recognition on the Dean’s Honor roll.

In 1988, she became nationally certified in nursing in Psychiatric and Mental Health. In 1992, Diane was named to the Council of State Boards of Nursing Panel of Item Reviewers headquartered in Chicago. She felt very honored to be selected as 1 of the 62 prestigious members of nurses across the country. In 2002, she received an award of appreciation from Northwest Texas Hospital for 32 years of dedication and caring for the mentally ill of the Texas Panhandle.

Diane was very active running in the park, exercising and lap swimming at the Amarillo Town Club. She loved camping, fly fishing in the Rockies, hiking in the Cascade Mountains and snow skiing in the winter. She loved to travel, especially to London, Paris, Hawaii as well as many trips throughout Canada- Toronto, Vancouver, Whistler and one of her favorite places, Victoria, where she celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary with her family. She survived parasailing in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico, she adventured on several Alaskan cruises, trips to the Caribbean and even travelled to China on two different trips where she was able to take part in the adoption of 2 of her granddaughters. Diane loved to travel but was a true farm girl at heart. Weekends for almost 40 years were spent nurturing a cow-calf operation in Western Oklahoma. She loved the farms and regularly commented that the farms were very therapeutic.

Diane was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Larry Josties. Survivors include her husband, Dale, her three daughters, Carrie Thompson of Seattle, Washington,  Colleen Thompson of Redmond, Washington and Christa Martin and her husband, Travis, of Austin, Texas, four granddaughters, Emme and Addie Thompson of Redmond, Washington and Ruby and June Martin of Austin, Texas, her sister, Beatrice Thyberg of Vancouver, Washington and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in memory of Diane to the Alzheimer’s Association or Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church.

9 Replies to “Diane Elaine Josties Thompson”

  1. Dearest Diane and family, I want to tell you what a great mentor you were and that you touched so many lives in so many ways. I will miss you greatly. I can laugh when I think about days working with you and how excited you were about you grandchildren. Loss is so difficult but having you in my life was a joy. Dear family of Diane, Thankyou for sharing her! Love to you all, Joan Richie

  2. Diane taught me so much working at the Pavilion. I will always remember her smile and the beauty that came from her eyes especially when talking about her family and especially her grandchildren. Amarillo is forever changed without her in it. Praying for her family and friends.

  3. I will always miss my best friend from Lincoln High & Mt. Zion Lutheran church. We had many wonderful times together growing up.
    May she rest in Peace. God Bless Dale & the girls.
    Lovenly, Margie

  4. I was so sad to hear about Diane. She always had a smile and could relate to anyone staff or patients. I learned so much from her. Her eyes were so expressive and really lit up when talking about her family esp the grandkids. Amarillo lost someone really important to so many by all she encouraged and taught. Prayers for her family and friends who were eso close to her.

  5. Diane was such a wonderful nurse and friend, and we shared many good times during our lunches with another nurse friend, Marcia, who passed away 3 years ago. I am so sad that Diane suffered from such a horrible disease as Alzheimer’s, the same disease that took my mother from me. I choose to remember Diane who was so full of life and joy, and who was always such a caregiver. She will be missed by many. Our thoughts and prayers are with her husband, Dale, and all her family.
    “Death leave a heartache no one can heal; love leaves a memory no one can steal”.

  6. Diane was a great neighbor and friend from many years ago. I still remember how hard she studied when she first started her career and still took care of her family. She was the kind of friend you never forget. All my love and prayers to the family. She was such a blessing to all of us.

  7. I worked with Diane at the Pavilion for several years. She was a great nurse and friend! She was always upbeat with a smile and concern for her patients. My thoughts and prayers to her family during this time.

  8. We love & will forever miss you Aunt Diane. You were so much fun to be around – you were always laughing. A beautiful person (inside & out) and you touched so many people’s lives. Heaven has a new angel ! One day we’ll all be able to see one another again. God Bless & our deepest sympathy to the entire Thompson family.
    Love, Ann, Ralph Sink & Liz DeLaughter

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *