Theresa Diane Cone was born September 26, 1947, in Salmon, Idaho to Ward and Jean Stroschein. At a young age they moved to Blackfoot, Idaho where she grew up. Diane is the oldest of seven children. She loved music, playing piano, singing, and being in the high school band. She also enjoyed babysitting for neighbors and the freedom of roller skating. Learning how to sew may have started with clothes for her Barbie dolls, but it became a lifelong passion. She graduated high school in 1965 and spent some time at the University of Idaho. She worked at various jobs before going to airline stewardess school and working for Western Airlines. Two of her most memorable flights were the first flight from Hawaii back to the mainland and the first flight from LA to Helena, Montana. During that time, she dated Duane Cone, who was an old flame from high school. They were married on August 2, 1969. Duane was a U.S. Marine, and his service would take them to numerous places across the country including California, North Carolina, and Idaho. Diane continued to work throughout her life as a beautician, ICU ward clerk, nursing home coordinator, Hewlett Packard warehouse stocker, and bus driver for special needs children. Her kindness was evident in the jobs that she chose. She was fulfilled by serving and taking care of others. Diane had no greater joy than time spent with her family. Diane became a mother when their daughter, Heather, was born in October 1974. They had the opportunity to spend a lot of quality time together while Duane was stationed in Okinawa, Japan with the Marines. They added to their family when Heather married Brandon, and they had 3 sons for Diane to spoil and enjoy. She spent her free time sewing Halloween costumes, super-hero costumes, blankets, and anything else they asked her to help with. They played, cooked, built things, went together on errands, ate peanut butter and honey sandwiches with sprinkles, and were showered with love from Grandma. Her retirement was planned so she could be close to the grandkids and her family. As time permitted, Diane and Duane had a lot of fun exploring the world. Over their 55 years together, they went to 52 countries and all the continents except South America and Antarctica. They adventured through Europe, Asia, Australia, and her favorite, South Africa. Diane loved her family and friends, whether it was from her childhood, her various jobs, a neighbor, sewing groups, the dentist or a French lady on an ice breaker ship near the North Pole. Her address book, email, and messenger were always active. Diane passed away on October 17, 2024, shortly after her 77th birthday, due to complications from chemo and radiation treatments for pancreatic cancer. She will always be remembered for her smile and her laugh, her happy and positive outlook, and her love for her family and friends. Diane is survived by her husband Duane, daughter, Heather (Brandon), and grandsons Brentley (Mckenzie), Corey (Janelle), and Dillon.
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