Joan (Borgens) (Schell) Dicus

Joan (Borgens) (Schell) Dicus

June 1935- Aug 2024

After a long and winding road, Joan (Borgens Schell) Dicus hit the final stop in her life on Monday, Aug.19, 2024, surrounded by her daughter and loving friends. Joan was born in Ritzville, Wash. and spent her childhood on her parents' farm. Her parents, Henry Borgens Jr and Emma (Kiesz) Borgens had 4 children, Joan being the youngest, born June 1935. Joan was a proud graduate of Ritzville High School and maintained childhood friendships throughout her life. She married Stan Schell in June of 1953. Stan was in the Army and they were stationed in Georgia, California, and Fairbanks, Alaska. They returned to Ritzville and worked on farms until Stan started Stan's Tire Shop in Ritzville. Stan had bigger dreams and moved the family to the San Francisco Bay Area. Joan worked alongside him in the businesses. Joan enjoyed being both a Girl and Boy Scout leader. She joined various clubs with a variety of interests; especially sewing and fashion.

They left California for Washington State in 1973 and purchased a farm in Ephrata, Wash. in 1974. She joined an agricultural group called WIFE, (Women Involved in Farm Economics) in the early 1980's. She joined Stan in promoting ethanol fuels for new grain markets. They drilled water wells on their dryland farm to increase the farming options. Joan worked for Tommer Construction in the early farm years, Sutter, Kunkle and Thompson hired her in the 1980's, and she worked at the Columbia Basin Irrigation District Office in Quincy after Stan's death, in 1988.

They knew many political leaders, nationally and state level, along with most local leaders. She would always share the story of going to dinner with Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Johnny Unitas, and Ben Davidson. Their son, Curtis, was in a Clorox ad as a young boy with Rick Barry of the NBA at that time. She also modeled for a San Francisco designer a few times. Since high school, and throughout her life she played golf, in all her locations. She really enjoyed her years at Walla Walla Country Club. She also bowled since she was a teenager. She competed in State and National tournaments and thoroughly enjoyed those trips with her dear friends, notably Lonna Borgens, her cousin.

She always enjoyed music. She played the saxophone in high school, and played piano her whole life. In her senior years she learned to play the handbells in her Walla Walla church. She truly enjoyed live theater, chorale music, and community fairs/festivals.

She met and married Bill Dicus moving to his home in Walla Walla, Wash. in 1991. She worked for the Pasco Irrigation District for several years while living in Walla Walla. She lost Bill in August 2011. She stayed at their home until March 2013 when she moved to Golden West Estates, an over 55 mobile home park. She was always active in the neighborhoods she lived and Golden West Estates, had a community center in which she enjoyed game nights, potlucks, and other get togethers. Her neighbors, Doug Nelson and Helen Gaffrey became dear friends there. Many clubs found her joining like; PEO, Garden Club, Bible Study and others. She moved to Wheatland Village in May of 2022. She enjoyed the living history programs at Fort Walla Walla and taking family and friends when they visited.

She is survived by one sister, Eleanor Lloyd (Bob). She was preceded in death by a sister, Deloris Allert (Simonson) (Borgens) and brother Wally Borgens (Naomi). Joan had 3 children, Cindy (Schell) Ray (Tim), Clay Schell, and Curtis Schell (deceased), 3 grandchildren Heather Schell, Nathan Schell, and Shaun Schell, and 7 great grandchildren. Her step children; Jeff Dicus, Julie Bicklehaupt (Blaine), Wendy Dicus Wheatley, Clint Dicus (Linda), Katie Bruya (Edward), and Heather Sproul (Jim) and several stepgrandchildren.

A memorial service was held Sept 5th in Walla Walla

In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Fort Walla Walla Living History Program in her name would be appreciated.