Sheila Dietzen

Sheila (McKelvey) Dietzen was born January 2,1936 in Butte, Montana, to Thomas and Nora Bee McKelvey. She passed away on October 20, 2026, in Yakima, Washington. Sheila grew up in Helena, Montana and had four siblings, Ellen, Jimmy, Lenore, and Patrick.

Sheila earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Carroll College, Helena, Montana and a Masters in Science from Central Washington University.

While at Carroll, she met her love, Gary Dietzen, and they were married in 1962. Their early years were spent in Japan, as Gary taught English at Johnson Air Force Base and welcomed first child, Todd.

After moving back to the U.S., they settled in Yakima, where Sheila was an administrator at various nursing homes, and taught at St. Elizabeth’s School of Nursing and Yakima Valley College. Sheila was hired at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital, as Director of Nursing and Assistant Administrator. She loved her job, co-workers, nursing staff, and especially the head nurses, who she said were the best in the country.

Sheila and Gary raised four children, Todd, Shelly, Jenny, and Annie on acreage in West Valley with horses, cattle, and sheep. They were also founding family members of Holy Family Parish.

In retirement, Sheila and Gary traveled extensively, enjoyed reconnecting with her Irish relatives, wintered in San Diego in their RV, and rode many miles on their bikes. Sheila became a talented quilter, sharing her quilts with family members, and won the People’s Choice Award at the Yakima Quilt Show. She also loved music, dancing, Yakima Symphony, Seahawks, Mariners, and WSU Cougars. She was also a 60+ year member of Beta Sigma Phi, chapter Preceptor Laureate Chi, a social and service sorority.

Sheila and Gary’s love for their grandchildren was enormous, evident by attending many sports and activities, and by providing advice, support, and love.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Gary Dietzen, her parents, Thomas and Nora Bee McKelvey, brother Jimmy McKelvey, and sisters, Ellen Murphy, and Lenore Puhek. She is survived by her brother, Patrick McKelvey (Judy), son, Todd Dietzen (Cheri, deceased), daughters, Shelly Nagle (John), Jenny Boydstun-Junaid (Ricky), Annie Pearsons (Todd), grandchildren, Jimmy Nagle (Mary), Krista Clark (Mike), Natalie Nagle (Grant, fiancé), Tessa Kerr (Steve), Luke Pearsons, Grace Pearsons, great-grandchildren, Benton Kerr and Leighton Kerr, along with many nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Mass and Reception will be held on Monday, November 2, 2026, at 10:00am, at Holy Family Parish Chapel. A Graveside Service will follow at Calvary cemetery.

Special thanks to the staff at Fieldstone Assisted Living, for their compassion and kindness.

In lieu of flowers, remembrance memorials may be made payable to the American Heart Association or Shriners Children’s Hospital and sent in care of Shaw & Sons Funeral Home (201 N. 2nd St., Yakima, WA 98901), who is caring for the family. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.shawandsons.com.