Dorothy Jean Van Diest, age 95, went home to be with the Lord on Nov. 28, 2025. She was born in Glendale, California, in 1930 to Martin and Dorothy Noren. By age 21, she had moved 21 times due to her father’s adventurous spirit. Jean loved swimming, tennis and music, playing several instruments. At age 13, while attending Calvary Church in Santa Ana, California, she gave her life to Jesus Christ and faithfully served Him for the rest of her life.
Jean graduated from Multnomah School of the Bible in Portland, Oregon, where she met her future husband, Gale Van Diest. They married in 1952 and soon felt called to missionary work in Alaska. In 1954, they moved with their first son, Marty, to the village of Holikachuk. There they suffered the heartbreaking loss of their son Davy to influenza at 16 months, along with several other village children. They later welcomed Jeannette, Joanne, Mark and Jay. After the village relocated to Grayling, Jean homeschooled the first graders until a school was built. The family served in the Alaskan bush for 33 years.
Jean embraced the rugged mission life—teaching the Bible, playing accordion for church, helping deliver babies, cooking for camps, surviving a plane crash and a house fire, and even caroling in –50° weather. In 1967 they served as dorm parents at Victory High School and later continued ministry in Palmer, Alaska.
In 1987 they moved to Boring, Oregon, where Jean worked in the mission office of Interact Ministries, formerly Arctic Missions. Their final move in 1999 brought them to Mossyrock, Washington, near family. They served as hospice volunteers and celebrated 70 years of marriage in 2022.
Jean is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gale; son, Davy; and brother, William (Sharon). She is survived by her children, Marty (Grace), Jeannette (Paco), Joanne (Kevin), Mark (Lorri) and Jay (Susan); 19 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Many thanks to the caregivers and staff at Chehalis West Assisted Living, where she moved in 2024. Their kind and compassionate care contributed to Jean’s great peace and contentment.
A celebration of life will be held Saturday, Dec. 13, at 10 a.m. at Shoestring Valley Community Church in Onalaska, Washington, with burial to follow.
