Dianne Lee Phelps

1944 - 2025

Dianne Lee Phelps
Reed City, MI
09/11/1944 - 09/18/2025
Dianne Lee Phelps, age 81 of Reed City, MI, passed away Friday, September 18, 2025, at her memory care home in Big Rapids, MI
Dianne Lee Baldinus was born on September 11, 1944, in Pontiac, MI, to Joseph and Rosa Lee (Freeman) Baldinus. In 1945 she moved to Harrietta and then in 1946 to Cadillac, MI. She graduated from Cadillac Senior High School in 1962. Dianne attended Central Michigan University and then returned to school as an adult, graduating Omicron Delta Kappa from Ferris State University with a bachelor's degree in Social Work in 1992. After CMU Dianne had a few moves before settling in to raise her family in Reed City, Mich. in 1969.
Dianne enjoyed writing and she spent over 50 years as a journalist, reporter, columnist, and photographer for various area papers. Dianne worked as the editor for the Osceola County Herald and The Reed City News. She was on staff reporter/photographer for Cadillac Evening News, Osceola County Herald, The Reed City News, Lakeland Tribune/Inter-Lake News (Keego Harbor).
Dianne also worked as a freelance writer and photographer for the Grand Rapids Press, The Big Rapids Pioneer, GRIT, Detroit Free Press, Evart Review, Marion Press, and Saginaw Valley Magazine. She worked broadcasting a weekly radio interview show for WBRN in Big Rapids and did feature reporting for a local television station.
Dianne really enjoyed writing her weekly column featuring the ups and downs of her life. She also had weekly personal columns called Jaw Floppin', Pauses, Reflections, and Brimming Over. Dianne met a lot of interesting people on her job and covered political figures such as President Nixon, President Ford, and Pat Palson during his bid for president. One of her favorite interviews was with the wife of composer George Bennard who wrote the popular hymn, "The Old Rugged Cross." This meaningful song was coincidentally playing at the time of Dianne's death.
With her degree in Social Work, Dianne was on a quest to help others. She started an internship and was later hired at Central Michigan Community Hospital PsychCare as a mental health technician in the early 90's. Dianne also did an internship at Human Aid in Reed City which she proudly shared she had been sober from alcohol since November 2, 1978! The best part of her personality is how open she was in sharing her own struggles to help others not feel so alone. In her writings or in person she always made everyone feel valued and loved.
In 1964 Dianne was married (for 17 years) and she has three children. Son, Joe Warner of Traverse City, MI; daughter, Michelle (Fred) Russell of Muskegon, MI; son, Mike (Gena) Warner of Lake Orion, MI.
On September 14, 1996, she married the love of her life, Herb Phelps, and started a new chapter in her life. For 29 years they not only loved each other but liked each other too! This union added new bonus children to her heart; son, Brad (Carol) Phelps; daughter, Angie (Paul) Hamilton.
Dianne absolutely adored being a wife and mother but her real joy was being Granny to all their grandchildren, Zack and Reese Bancuk, Corbin and Katelyn Russell, Abby and Molly Warner, Kaden (Monica), Seth (Alyvia), and Eli Phelps, Colin Knapp, Joshua (Maddie) Hamilton, Elizabeth (Orin) Fussell and their children, Evan and Cevanna, Nathan Hamilton and his children, Caisen and Karma. She also adored being Aunt Dianne to her nieces and nephews.
After marrying Herb, Dianne became a member of the United Methodist Church in Reed City, MI. This led her to be more involved and grow closer to God. She took on a new job as the parish assistant and later felt led to study to become a pastor herself. Dianne was very involved in church activities and felt God has called her to share Him with others as a loving and forgiving Father. She started Granny's Group, worked with the youth groups, vacation bible school, jail ministries, House of Hope and many many more.
Dianne was also always by her husband Herb's side at the Osceola County Fair in Evart, the Dulcimer Festival, and the wood carvers events.
Dianne had many talents and hobbies. She absolutely loved meeting strangers and becoming fast friends. She really cherished all her close friendships. She loved collecting anything and everything! Rocks, dollhouses, miniatures, books, puzzles, craft items. Thrifting brought her so much joy. She loved to do genealogy. She enjoyed reading, taking endless photos, drawing, and pink bellied clouds. She loved nature, bird watching and her dog, Gizmo. Dianne loved doing puzzles and collecting santas. She was pen pals with Norman Rockwell and an avid collector of all his art works. She loved to laugh and had a wicked sense of humor. Dianne loved going out to coffee and talking to everyone.
She lived for spending time with her kids or grandkids and going to their sporting events. She loved dancing and every moment with her honey of a hubby.
Dianne was all about making memories with the ones she loved most. Alzheimer's did not take away how much she loved life and the simple things. She was adamant that we all still live, laugh and love. We miss her but know that she is healed, happy, and reunited with her family members in Heaven. Memories may fade but love never dies. We have faith we will be united again one day, until then, as she would always write, "Journey on……"
All are welcome to attend Dianne's Celebration of Life at 11 a.m. on October 11, 2025, at the United Methodist Church located at 503 S. Chestnut Street, Reed City, Michigan 49442. A luncheon will follow.