Dianne Andrus Blackham graduated to heaven June 11, 2024 after a five year battle with breast cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family and was able to pass peacefully in her home.
Dianne was born May 11, 1960 to Elden and Lucille Andrus in Payson, Utah, the seventh child of ten. She was raised in Payson & Spanish Fork. She was always enthralled by the love her parents shared and used it as a model for finding her husband and raising her children.
The two great loves in Dianne’s life were her husband David and the family they built together. Dianne met Dave at Snow College “fiddling around,” as she liked to say, since it was during “Summer Snow“ a string music camp. They wrote Dave’s entire mission, but only ever exchanged one “mushy letter” in which Dianne had stuffed an envelope full of dry oatmeal. They married September 7, 1979 in the Manti temple. They established their home in Mount Pleasant, where they raised their six children.
Dianne was the perfect example of a mother. She was absolutely in love with each of her children. Her motto for motherhood was to treat her children as though they were the most important people in the world. She supported them to try every hobby imaginable to help them find their passions. Dianne mothered with the mentality to say no as little as possible, often saying, “If my kids were asking for something good, why would I say no.” She often referred to her children’s spouses not as her “kids in law” but her “kids in love.”
While her children were in school, she helped her husband run their business, Skyline Pharmacy, where she kept the books. Despite being behind the scenes, she was an integral piece to the beloved community pillar.
She was adored by all of her sixteen grandchildren. She often hosted cousin sleepovers and created a closeness where each child knew they were loved and adored by her. She lived to serve all the children in her life, family or otherwise.
Dianne was a faithful and active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At the time of her death, she was serving a mission in the family search department. She chose to not be released when she became ill as she wanted to continue missionary and temple work beyond the veil. She held many callings in her life in each of the auxiliaries, most notably as a primary president and teacher, ward chorister, relief society and young women’s presidencies, pianist, and organist. One of her greatest joys was serving in the temple. In her final weeks, when asked if there was anything people could do for her she asked for everyone to do their own genealogy and take it to the temple.
Not only did Dianne serve at church and in her family, but she also loved serving the community. Dianne was Miss Snow College in 1978, she started youth soccer in the area, and helped lay the groundwork to restore the community orchestra for youth in Sanpete. She also instilled this love of community in her children by supporting her daughter as Miss Snow College and all five of her sons to achieve their Eagle Scout recognition.
Dianne was an incredible musician her entire life, playing piano, violin, and viola. She composed and arranged hundreds of songs which can be found at dianneblackham.com and on the Family Search website.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Ron, her sister Denille, and her son Bradley. She is survived by her spouse David and her children Brett (Brittney) of Ephraim, UT; Emilee (John Kuchenmeister) of Mount Pleasant, UT; Brigham (Belinda) of Grand Junction, CO; Bryce (Riley) of Fort Worth, TX; Brenden (Tessa) of Tremonton, UT; and her sixteen grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at The Mt Pleasant Utah North Stake Center (500 N 300 W Mt. Pleasant, UT) Monday, June 17th, 2024 at 11:00 am, with viewings held before the service from 9:00-10:30 am and Sunday evening 6:00-8:00 pm. Following the service Dianne will be laid to rest in Moroni, UT.
Becky Bartholomew:
