Mary Orth

Mary Schlecht Dicke Orth, age 85, of Fort Collins, Colorado, passed away peacefully on May 14, 2024, at Pathways Hospice Care Center in Fort Collins after suffering a catastrophic stroke on May 8, 2024.

Mary was born October 6, 1938, in Alamo, Texas, to Loretta Benne Schlecht and The Reverend Willard Schlecht. She was the oldest of seven children: five girls and two boys. She grew up in San Antonio, Texas, where she graduated high school in 1957. Following high school graduation, Mary married Ken Dicke and moved to College Station, Texas, where Ken attended Texas A&M University. While living there, Mary gave birth to their son Alan and daughter Loretta (Lori). Following Ken's college graduation, their family moved to Buena Park, California, in the spring of 1960. While living there, Mary gave birth to sons James and Richard.

The family moved to Ogallala, Nebraska, in 1968, then Hampton, Lexington, and again to Ogallala, Nebraska, in 1977.

Mary and Ken Dicke ended their union in 1982. Mary married Dwayne Orth on May 11, 1991, at St. Paul's in Ogallala. They enjoyed traveling, especially to Culligan conventions. In 2007, they began wintering in Arizona, where they made many dear friends. Mary was a congregant of St. Paul's Lutheran Church for many years and was honored to serve with the Sandhills Crisis Intervention Program. She also worked part-time at Trails End. Dwayne and Mary lived in their home near Brule until Dwayne passed away in spring 2019. Thereafter, Mary moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, to live near her four children and their families.

Mary is predeceased by her husband, Dwayne Orth; her father, The Reverend Willard Schlecht; her mother, Loretta Benne Schlecht; her sisters, Judith Schlecht Klute and Margaret Schlecht Palmer; and her brother, Paul Schlecht.

Mary is survived by her sister Anita Schlecht Wall and Anita's husband Ed Wall of Hampton, Nebraska, her sister Joyce Schlecht Langley and Joyce's husband Barry Langley of Mobile, Alabama, and her brother David Schlecht and David's wife Joyce Schlecht of Newkirk, Oklahoma.

Mary leaves behind her son Alan Dicke of Fort Collins, Colorado and grandsons Avery Dicke of Fort Collins and Aidan Dicke (fiance Sasha) of Frederick, Colorado; daughter Lori Dicke Whitely Haskett (Randy) of Fort Collins, Colorado, with granddaughter Lindsey Haskett Page (Austin), and great-grandson Maverick Page of Loveland, Colorado, also grandson Tyler Haskett (Tristyn) of La Vergne, Tennessee; Mary's son Jim Dicke (Janette) of Fort Collins, Colorado with grandson Austin Dicke (Julie) and great-grandkids Remington and Kairi of Fort Collins, Colorado; Mary's son Rich Dicke (Traci) of Longmont, Colorado with granddaughter Makayla Dicke of North Platte, Nebraska and grandson Ryan Dicke of Frederick, Colorado; stepson David Orth of Julesburg, Colorado; stepson Paul Orth of Ogallala, Nebraska; and stepson Dennis Orth (Heather) Brule, Nebraska with step-grandson Evan Orth (Allison) of Lincoln, Nebraska, step-granddaughter Rachel Orth and step-grandsons A.J. and Isaac Orth.

A funeral service is planned for Mary on Friday, May 24, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Ogallala, Nebraska, with Pastor Albert Bader officiating. Inurnment will be at Brule Cemetery at 2:15 p.m. the same day.

A coffee and cake reception will follow at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Ogallala.

Memorial contributions may be provided to St. Paul's Lutheran Church and The Lutheran Hour. Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com, where the services will be streamed live.

Prairie Hills Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.