Diane R. Holick

Diane R. (Duffield) Holick left us to be with Our Dear Lord on March 14, 2025, in Spokane WA, her home since 2011. Diane loved her family fiercely and was truly one of the kindest, loving and most generous individuals we will ever know.

Diane was born on September 16, 1946, in Brown's Valley MN, the middle of three children to Lee and Gertrude (nee Englebert) Duffield. Diane fondly remembers time spent at their Brown's Valley family lake cabin where she learned how to fish, build fires without matches, and with the gift of a 22 rifle at the age of 4, became an accomplished markswoman.

The family eventually moved to Boulder, CO when Diane was in elementary school. During her growing up years in Boulder, she was a child of the woods, always preferring the great outdoors to any indoor activities (much to her mother's dismay). Diane was fascinated with horses and was crazy about her first horse, a gorgeous black gelding named Apache. Not having enough money for a saddle, she rode Apache bareback all over the Boulder Foothills countryside for over a year until she saved enough babysitting money to purchase one.

As a Freshman in the Nursing program at CU Boulder, she met her future husband, ROTC student David Holick in the school cafeteria where they both worked. They married just before his deployment to Vietnam as a Naval officer. After David's overseas tours were complete and he returned to the states and civilian life, they settled down in Moscow Idaho with their daughter and son and built a fulfilling life together on their rural property on Moscow Mountain. With the modest amount of free time Diane had outside of work, she dove into homesteading life, enjoying her horses Six Pack (Quarter horse) Satin (Appaloosa), Misty (Mean Welsh Pony) along with chickens, goats, geese, rabbits, and the amazing wildlife that surrounded them on the mountain.

Diane was an instinctual Green Thumb as well as a certified Master Gardener proving her gift for all things green with multiple bountiful gardens, fruit trees and perennial beds all around the property.

She was also an amazing cook and gifted baker and delighted in delivering frequent gifts of her magical cinnamon rolls to family, neighbors, the crew at Event Rents and anyone else lucky enough to be in close proximity when they came out of the oven. She had a wonderfully wry sense of humor and zest for life, always involved in multiple projects, hobbies, volunteer efforts and always adventures with her grandchildren and family.

Following her retirement from the University of Idaho Department of Natural Resources, she and David moved to Spokane to be closer to Julie (daughter) and her family and continued to engage tirelessly with the people she loved and the many hobbies and projects that interested her. She terraced and re-landscaped the back yard of her Spokane home creating another artfully curated garden oasis in her new setting, totally embodying the saying "Bloom Where You are Planted".

Diane's humor, strength, kindness, positive attitude and enthusiasm for life influenced everyone around her. She was an incredible wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend and her beauty, strength and grace live on in those who love her.

Diane is survived by her husband, David L. Holick, Daughter Julie Holick (Brad) Orenstein, Granddaughter Devon Orenstein, Grandson Van Orenstein all from Spokane. Son Paul A. Holick of Columbus, MT. Brother John A. Duffield and Sister Helen Roe both of Colorado. A family celebration of Diane's amazing life is planned for the summer, amidst the flowers and gardens that she treasured.