Diane Carolyn Eitrheim

Diane Carolyn (Johnson) Eitrheim received her invitation to the Heavenly Homecoming Party on Sunday, June 16, 2024. Diane was born in Hamburg, Iowa, on April 21, 1935, Easter Sunday, to parents Walt and Nola (Eleanora) Johnson. Diane was a star basketball player in high school as well as a beauty queen, winning the coveted title of Queen of the Popcorn Festival. In 1955, she was the runner-up for Miss SW Iowa. Diane went to Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD, graduating with a degree in Music Education. In 1958, she married her college sweetheart Jim Eitrheim. They moved to Oak Park, Illinois in 1959 where they lived for 31 years.

Diane sold real estate with several agencies in Oak Park, IL beginning in 1978. She was always very personable, friendly, and easy-going. She was rewarded for her efforts, earning a spot in the prestigious Million Dollar Club. After 10 years of Sunday Open Houses and working to ‘close the deal’, she turned in her realtor badge and became a Title Officer with Prairie Title. After their last child graduated from high school in 1990, Jim and Diane pulled up their roots and went back to where it all began, Sioux Falls, SD. Jim had taught at the high school level, and he now moved on to teach in college. Diane reinvented herself and found a job at the local real estate office, assisting where she could. Their final move was to their newly built home on a lake in Pequot Lakes, MN, in 2000.

Diane was a student of the world and enjoyed traveling to many different places throughout her 89 years. They had often gone to TX and AZ to get out of the MN winters and were blessed to have friends in every state there and back. Visiting friends, old and new, was something she cherished. She and Jim traveled to Europe and Norway twice. She took a cruise on the Yangtze River in China and later, a trip to Morocco with her cousin. Her children were lucky enough to share adventures with her in Alaska, Prague/Berlin, and Russia. These are special memories that will last a lifetime for each of us.

Over their 52 years of marriage, they lived in three states and joined three churches, singing in the chancel choir for each of them. Diane and Jim’s dearest friends could be found in the alto and bass section of each choir, with an occasional, but select, soprano and tenor. These friends were life timers. It was these very friends who attended her annual Lefse Party; a hot ticket to get at the holiday time. Diane was a consummate hostess; she loved to host parties. She was a lifelong member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. Diane could also be called ‘Madam President’ as she was the president several times in P.E.O., she was the President of the Congregation at United Lutheran Church in Oak Park, and more recently, the President of The Nisswa Women’s Club. Diane was someone who was never afraid of saying ‘Yes’ and did so often. She took on whatever project was at hand and successfully recruited help; all of whom loved working with her for a greater cause. Her experience over the years at church with mother/daughter banquets helped to solidify her duties at the Nisswa Women’s Club Fashion Shows. Diane was always one to be counted on to help with the summer festivities of the Nisswa Stammen and the Lakes Area Music Festival. It has been remarked several times about her delightful sense of humor. Her stories and humor were never spoken in a hurtful or harsh manner; rather, they always showed beauty, grace, and kindness to others. In the words of her friend: “Diane was like a spring day- She left people feeling uplifted with her radiant smile, sense of humor, and sparkling personality.” -L.R.

Diane is survived by her three children, Kristofer Eitrheim (Pequot Lakes MN), Karin (Steve) Maas, and Erik (Dawn) Eitrheim, and her five adult grandchildren: Greta Maas, Ingrid Maas, Alec Eitrheim, Erik Maas, and Ava Eitrheim. We will gather August 3rd, 2024, at Lutheran Church of the Cross in Nisswa Minnesota to celebrate her life. Visitation will begin at 10am with service at 11am and committal in the Memorial Garden at noon. A luncheon will follow at the church.