Barbara Joan Diedrich's Obituary
Barbara Joan (Olson) Diedrich, 94, passed away peacefully on February 24, 2026, of natural causes.
Barbara, lovingly known as “Barb,” was born on September 22, 1931, at Brookings Wesleyan Hospital in Brookings, South Dakota, the second child of Arnold and Eva Olson. After the loss of her mother at just two and a half years old, Barb was raised by her father and her devoted stepmother, Herta. She spent her early school years attending one-room country schools alongside her siblings. She attended White High School for two years and graduated from Brookings High School in 1950.
As a young woman, Barb enjoyed roller skating and developed lifelong passions for golf and dancing. She began her professional life as a bookkeeper for the S&L Company and later at Brookings International Life and Casualty.
On November 25, 1953, Barb married Martin Diedrich. Together they built a life rooted in faith, family, and hard work, raising five children—Daniel, Larry (Lori), Thomas (Ida), David (Sandra), and Coni (Rick) Aguirre—on the family farm. Barb took great pride in knowing the farm remains in the hands of future generations.
Barb and Martin shared a love of golf at the Brookings Country Club. A golfing vacation in the late 1970s brought them to the Valley Inn and Country Club in Brownsville, Texas. Captivated by the warm weather and welcoming community, they became proud “Winter Texans,” even bringing along their youngest child for the adventure.
What began as helping friends find places to rent or purchase soon blossomed into Barb’s second career. In 1987, she became a realtor, first with Realty World in Brownsville and later with Matlock Realty in Weslaco, where she concluded her career. A dedicated and trusted professional, Barb earned numerous awards and, more importantly, the loyalty and friendship of her clients, many of whom returned to her time and again.
Barb’s faith was the cornerstone of her life. She taught catechism at St. Williams in Aurora, St. Mary’s in Elkton, South Dakota, and St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Brownsville, Texas. In Weslaco, she faithfully served at St. Pius X Catholic Church as an usher, Eucharistic Minister to the homebound, and money counter. She was also active in various support groups, always offering encouragement and strength to others.
A gifted seamstress, Barb purchased her first Singer sewing machine shortly after graduating high school. Sewing remained a lifelong joy, and in retirement, she embraced machine embroidery, blessing many family members and friends with her beautiful handcrafted gifts. Everything she created carried her signature touch and personality.
Barb will be remembered as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her family will forever cherish her straightforward advice, strong faith, joyful laughter, fierce loyalty, love of parties and dancing, and unwavering courage through life’s challenges.
She is survived by her five children, eighteen grandchildren, twenty-nine great-grandchildren, and her siblings, Omar (+Lynne) Olson, Justine (+Jerry) Christensen, and Darrell (Rita) Olson.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers Richard, Roger (+Helen), and Dean Olson; and her sister Dorothy (+Chan) Markus.
Visitation will be held Sunday, March 1, from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m., with family present from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. A Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, March 2, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Weslaco. Burial will take place at a later date at Greenwood Cemetery in Brookings, South Dakota.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests memorial contributions to her granddaughter’s charity, Emily’s Meals, which feeds the homeless (1500 Fullerton Avenue, McAllen, TX 78504), or that you keep the family in your prayers.
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