Diane Randolph Deeren

Diane R. Deeren, age 72, of Mankato, died Sunday, February 4, 2024 at Ecumen Pathstone Living after a brief struggle with ALS. 

Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church.  Visitation will be Friday, February 9 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Northview-North Mankato Mortuary. 

Diane was born on April 16, 1951 in Arlington, VA to John and Ruth (Roadhouse) Higdon.  She graduated from Fairfax High School in 1969 in Fairfax, VA.  During high school, Diane started working for the Defense Intelligence Agency in Arlington, VA, where she met Stephen Deeren.  On October 3, 1970, Diane and Stephen were married in Anandale, VA.  They moved to Mankato in 1972 and Diane worked for Northwestern Mutual Life, Orphan Annie’s, Designing Women, Corner House, Town and Country, and ReMax.  Diane retired in 2020. Diane served on the board for the YWCA and the ECHO Food Shelf.  She was very involved in St. John’s Episcopal Church.  Diane enjoyed flower gardening, photography, and spending time with her grandchildren.  

Diane is survived by her husband, Stephen of Mankato; two sons, Andrew Deeren (Rebecca Gonnering) of Menasha, WI and Daniel (Kim) Deeren of Big Lake, MN; two grandchildren, Finn and Hattie Deeren of Big Lake, MN; and sisters-in-law, Carolyn Martin and Susan Gadpaille. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Robert Higdon; and special Mankato parents, Milton and Shirley Casebere.