Dwight Everett Thiessen

Dwight Everett Thiessen was born on June 22, 1953, to Peter Daniel and Nancy Mae (Edes) Thiessen in Sidney, Montana. He grew up on the family farm near Lambert, Montana, until the family moved to Norwalk, California, for his first-grade year. The remainder of his early school years was spent back on the farm. In 1968, the family bought a second home in Nampa, Idaho, where Dwight attended a Christian high school and college while spending the summers back on the farm. He majored in accounting at Northwest Nazarene College and received associate degrees in agricultural business and livestock technology from Dawson Community College.
In 1971, a mutual friend introduced Dwight to his future wife, Diana Mansveld, while at Northwest Nazarene College. They were married in 1975 in Ashland, Oregon near Diana's hometown of Medford. They operated the family farm and D&D Herefords together while raising their three children, Peter K., Andrew, and Jessica. The kids loved going with Dad to "cake cows" or to do other chores around the farm, further developing their interest in livestock as he helped them with 4-H projects. Their family took an annual Christmas trip to Oregon to visit Diana's family and also enjoyed regular summer visits to Medora, North Dakota.
Dwight was a farmer at heart and kept up with the latest farming techniques, including growing safflower for crop diversification. He was appointed as a Richland County Commissioner in 1989 and was re-elected for two more terms through 1999. He also served on several boards, including Eastern Montana Bible Camp (EMBC) and the Savage Public School Board. While seeking to better his community, he developed many rich friendships which continued throughout his life. He never knew a stranger when he travelled, often meeting acquaintances who recognized a business logo from one of his many baseball caps. Many hunters from a variety of states appreciated being able to hunt on the ranch through the Block Management program. Dwight enjoyed keeping up with the Minnesota Twins baseball team, hunting for agates, playing a rousing round of Rook, setting up a life-sized nativity scene, and showing visitors Snowden Bridge or the family landmark of Castle Rock, where his father was born in a dugout on the original Thiessen homestead.
Dwight was recognized by the community and his business associates as a man of integrity and honesty, the result of a family legacy of faith which included his personal knowledge of God's love and grace as demonstrated in the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was a faithful church member at Lambert Alliance Church and later at Faith Alliance Church in Sidney. A highlight of his active participation as a Gideon was sitting at the Gideon booth at the Richland County Fair. He was an avid supporter of many Christian missionaries and ministries, such as EMBC and KGLE radio station. Those who knew Dwight were frequent recipients of his generosity, as well as his subtle sense of humor. Family members knew they could depend on his support and leadership, and he was a doting grandfather and devoted husband. Next year would have marked his and Diana's 50-year anniversary.
After battling cancer, Dwight passed away at home, going to meet his Lord and Savior on April 6, 2024, at the family farm with family by his side.
Dwight was preceded in death by his parents, Peter D. and Nancy Mae Thiessen, stepmother Doris Kelley-Thiessen, as well as an older sister, Luanna Mae, who died in infancy.
He is survived by his wife, Diana Thiessen, of Savage, MT; his three children: Peter K. Thiessen of Bismarck, North Dakota, Andrew (Brittni) Thiessen of Savage, Montana, and Jessica (Tim) Brown of Big Lake, Alaska; and three grandchildren, Ashlyn and Colter Thiessen of Savage, Montana, and Mackenzie Thiessen of Bismarck, North Dakota.
Memorial Contribution