Agnes Dietrich Zander DeBruyn

Agnes Dietrich passed away on February 25, 2026, in Hollywood, FL peacefully surrounded by family and friends. She left behind a life marked by strength, independence, adventure, and a deep love for family and friendship.

Born to Steve Sr. and Elizabeth Vogel, Agnes was raised on a farm in North Dakota where she developed the strong work ethic and resilience that shaped her life.

She married Herman Dietrich in 1942, after a short courtship at the young age of 18. In the next four years, they had three children: Lila, Shirley, and Gary. She was busy raising her family living in a small two room farmhouse. Agnes and Herman began with a humble beginning. Together they bought a garbage route with a single truck and grew it into a full fleet. It was the primary waste company, Dietrich Sanitary Service, in Bismarck for over 50 years. Agnes initially kept the books, but after Herman's passing, she stepped forward and helped oversee the business - a role she embraced with determination and pride. Agnes was never one to sit still. She was deeply involved in her community as a member of the Legion, Elks, Moose Lodge, and the Women's Auxiliary. She loved to dance. She & Herman competed in square dancing alongside two of her closest friends, even designing and sewing their costumes herself.

After Herman's passing, she traveled the world with dear friends Hilda Dietrich and Gladys Landerhome.

Later in life, she met and married Harry Zander in Bismarck. Together they traveled extensively and spent winters in Arizona, where Agnes built another strong circle of friends and became known for hosting daily happy hours.

Agnes eventually found companionship again with her close friend John DeBruyn. When he asked her to travel with him, Agnes told him she could not travel with a man she wasn't married to - so he asked her to marry him. They drove their RV, into their 90's, cross-country visiting family.

Agnes also loved to dance, fish, sew & do puzzles. She lived in North Dakota, Florida, and Arizona, always making friends wherever she went. She was always on the go - never idle - living life fully and on her own terms.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Steve Sr. and Elizabeth Vogel; her husband, Herman Dietrich; her daughter, Lila Schwalbe; her son, Gary H. Dietrich; her grandson, Terrance Schwalbe; her siblings and their spouses, Steve Jr. (Anna) Vogel, Frank (Marie) Vogel, Rose (Edward) Kuntz, Catherine (Anton) Schmidt, Julianna (George) Schmidt, Angeline (Clarence) Helms, Vincent (Irma) Vogel, John (Monica) Vogel, Elizabeth (Don) Bramlett, and Peter Vogel; and her husbands, Harry Zander and John DeBruyn.

Agnes is survived by her daughter, Shirley (Dennis) Koffler; her son-in-law, Dick Schwalbe; and her daughter-in-law, Betty Dietrich.

She is also survived by her grandchildren: Sheila (Dave) Glaser, Gary (Dana) Schwalbe, Sherri (Greg) Locandro, Danya (Chip) Hilts, Tami (Trevor) Dobbs, and Cassi (Jason) Meyer.

Her legacy lives on through 14 great-grandchildren and 16 great-great-grandchildren.