Obituaries

Diane Virginia (Dickerson) Bird passed away peacefully on April 19, 2026 in Bothell, Washington. Diane was born June 27, 1941, in Albion, Nebraska, to Harold Dickerson and Violet (Magnuson) Dickerson.

Preceded in death by her parents and sisters, Teresa (Dickerson) McGinnis and Victoria Dickerson, Diane graduated Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana, where, in 1962, she met her husband-to-be, Michael Dominic Bird, who passed away in 2012.

Diane is survived by and leaves a legacy of love to her four children, Michele Bird (Kevin Collins) of St. Louis, Missouri; Martin Bird (Catherine Marriott) of Noblesville, Indiana; Eric Bird (Colleen Fahey) of Merrillville, Indiana; and Danielle (Bird) Voeller (Phil Voeller) of Kirkland, Washington.

Grandchildren include Naomi Voeller, Luka Voeller, Jane Voeller, Sheryl Flasch (Ernesto Quezada), Lucas Bird, and Ian Bird. Great grandchildren include Jackson Bird, Cameron Bird, Amberly Quezada, Karina Quezada, and Zoe Quezada.

Diane lived in Japan during her husband’s service in the Navy. There they started a family that continued to grow when they moved stateside, residing on the west coast for several years. She and Mike, along with their four children, eventually settled in Shoals, Indiana, on a 70-acre plot of land, where they developed a homestead over several decades, building a house and barn and raising livestock and a large organic garden. Over the years, she also worked in administrative and management roles at National Gypsum in Shoals, and later, with Mike and son Eric, managed Lakeview Golf Course in Loogootee, Indiana. In her final years, Diane relocated to Kirkland, Washington.

A woman of remarkable strength and character, Diane was known to be both hardworking and dedicated. Her commitment to service was evident in her extensive volunteer work: handcrafting baby blankets for the Linus Project; meticulous editing for Kiva, which earned her a prestigious award; actively participating in the Martin County Chamber of Commerce; and being a highly valued volunteer at St. Vincent de Paul.

Diane was also an avid reader and a lifetime letter-writer who cherished the art of the written word. Though her final letter has been written, the care and love she poured into every relationship remain a lasting gift to her family and friends. She will be deeply missed.