Diane Carol Ballhagen

Diane Carol Ballhagen, age 78, of Wheaton, Minnesota passed away Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at Sanford Hospital in Wheaton, Minnesota.

A Memorial Service will be held Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wheaton with Rev. Cheryl Berg officiating.

Visitation will be held Sunday from 3:00 p.m. until service time at the church.

Burial will be in Wildwood Cemetery, Wheaton. Urn bearers will be her five grandsons: Dustin Heck, Darin Nelson, Cody Ballhagen, Weston Erickson and Kash Erickson. Honorary urn bearers will be her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Diane Carol Bogenrief was born on June 28, 1944 in Ortonville, MN to Robert and Leila (Jorschumb) Bogenrief. She was baptized on July 16, 1944 and confirmed in April of 1959. Diane attended school in the Ortonville school district, graduating in 1962.

On December 29, 1961 Diane Bogenrief and LaVerne Ballhagen were united in marriage. They had five children; Jody, Lynnae, Shelly, Kelly, and Amy. Diane and LaVerne farmed for several years. In 1977 they bought Verne’s Bar in Beardsley, MN. In 1982, they sold the bar and purchased a motorhome to go on the road racing quarter horses and thoroughbreds in Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska. Throughout this time, they were able to see a lot of countryside. While racing horses, Diane worked alongside LaVerne cleaning stalls, feeding horses, and occasionally in the track kitchen.

In 1993, Diane and Amy moved to Wheaton. In 1995, she went back to school for her Associate of Science degree in Accounting at NDSCS, graduating in 1997. Diane worked at Dueber’s and Citgo after moving to town; then finally at Willy’s SuperValu where she retired after 15 years of employment at the age of 70. Diane was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. In August 2022, she moved to Traverse Care Center as her health declined.

Diane loved to crochet and made many blankets for her family along with donating several to the nursing home. Whether it was splitting wood, dog sitting, watching her grandkids, or anything in between; Diane was always ready to help when her kids called. She loved family gatherings; Christmas was her favorite. Diane devoted much of her life to her family. She was very proud of her children and grandchildren.

They are her legacy.

Diane is survived by her five children; Jody (Dwight) Nelson, Lynnae (Milly Clark) Ballhagen, Shelly (Peter) Heck, Kelly (Tammy) Ballhagen, and Amy (Kevin) Erickson; her grandchildren; Amber (Harmon) Christians, Dustin (Teresa) Heck, Darin (Michelle) Nelson, Cody (Shanda) Ballhagen, Weston Erickson, Kash Erickson, Jesse (Jenna) Douglas, Kelcey (Taylor) Cox, and Jacey (Logan) Gloege; her great grandchildren Maverick, Evie, Willa, Ivy, Bo, Ella, Zoey, Lucas, Benji, Brinlee, Maverick, Ava, Bentley, Drake, Bella, and Indy.

Diane is preceded in death by her parents Robert Bogenrief and Leila Bogenrief; her grandson Cory Nelson.

Memorial Donations have been designated to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Youth Group at:

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

605 10th Street North

Wheaton, MN 56296