Nadine Schmunk Dietrich, 98, of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, reached into the loving arms of Jesus on September 4, 2024. A public viewing has been scheduled at Bridgman Funeral Home in Scottsbluff from 11:00 am – 7:00 pm on Friday, October 4, 2024. An immediate-family-only graveside farewell will be held at Pleasant Hill Cemetery (also known as Hull Cemetery 14 miles south of Stegall) four miles south of the former Dietrich Ranch. Memorials in Nadine’s honor may be made to Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com. Bridgman Family Funeral Home in Scottsbluff is entrusted with arrangements.
Nadine was born amidst a winter blizzard on December 12, 1925, on the family farm in rural Minatare, Nebraska. She was the second child of three born to John and Anna (Backer) Schmunk, both born in the Russian Volga River Valley. Generations earlier, both the Schmunk and Backer families had previously, and at the same time, migrated to the Volga area by walking from the German State of Hesse to settle in Umet (Rosenberg) Russia in 1764. Both families made homes in Lutheran villages in the Volga River Valley of Saratov before migrating to the United States through Ellis Island, NY, circa 1912. When they arrived, all members of the families literally knelt down and kissed the ground in gratitude for their long-awaited religious and political freedoms, safety and promising futures. A short twelve years later in 1924, Nadine’s parents, John and Anna, were married in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.
Nadine received her education through eighth grade at Haig School in Mitchell Valley where she relished being in the same class as her only brother and best friend, Walter Schmunk, who was one year older than Nadine. Together, Nadine and Walt enjoyed playing on Haig’s softball team and were crowned athletic banquet king and queen their eighth-grade year. As children, Nadine and Walt also accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior together in a revival service at the German Baptist Church in Scottsbluff.
In the fall of 1940, Nadine then transferred to Scottsbluff High School her freshman and sophomore years where she was selected for student council, played kettle drums in the SHS band and was also a twirler in the marching band. Her junior and senior years were at Minatare High School where she performed as a varsity cheerleader before graduating with her Class of 1944.
Until the end of World War II, Nadine worked in the Scotts Bluff County Ration Office for the United States civil service. She was then employed in the superintendent’s office for Gering Public Schools. While helping chaperone the GHS prom in 1946, Nadine’s date, Cliff Dietrich, unexpectedly proposed. The two were married in Gering on February 23, 1947, and thereafter were blessed with 60 years together as man and wife. As newlyweds, Nadine and Cliff owned and operated “Flowers by Dietrich”, a main street business in Gering which was built by Nadine’s father as a gift to the couple. When Cliff later went into farming south of Gering in Cedar Valley (now Cedar Canyon), Nadine joined the staff of Consumer’s Public Power District (now NPPD) and later Great Western Sugar Company (now Western Sugar Cooperative).
From 1952 through 1972, Nadine enjoyed being a full-time mother to her three children, Roxanne, Natalie and Oak Lee. She shared with them her faith in Jesus Christ and provided opportunities for them to experience the finer things in life including music and nature, as well as her homemade traditional German dishes. During these years, Nadine was also an active member of Carter Canyon Project Club and served as President of the Women’s Society for Christian Service at Gering United Methodist Church. It was there she co-authored “Quiet Moments: A Collection of Poems” and Volumes I & II of “God in my Kitchen” cookbooks. Nadine also hosted a daily noon bible devotional broadcast on KSTF-TV entitled “The Master’s Moment”. Additionally, Nadine served as a board member for the local Christian Women’s Club, was an advisory board member for KCMI Christian Radio and a counselor at Camp Rock Ministries.
In 1972, Nadine accepted a proposal from Dr. Max Gentry of Gering to assist him in laying the groundwork for what would become Northfield Retirement Communities (NRC) in Gering, which now includes The Residency in Scottsbluff. Her work with NRC led to her interest in becoming a real estate agent. In 1976, Nadine joined Bitner-Warner Realty, later known as CENTURY 21® Home Team Realty, where she served as a Broker Associate for 40 years. Nadine’s husband Cliff also became a Broker Associate, and together they worked as a team in real estate while also ranching in Sioux, Banner and Scotts Bluff Counties. Nadine served as a 40-year member of both the National Association of REALTORS® and the Scotts Bluff County Board of Realtors whose members selected her as their “2012 Realtor of the Year” at the age of 87.
Throughout her career, Nadine earned a host of CENTURY 21® accolades based on top production as both a selling and listing agent. She was devoted to her chosen profession and believed it to be her personal ministry through which she could help others. In July 2017, in recognition of her contributions to the community, Nadine was voted Honorary Old Settlers Vice President for the 96th Annual Oregon Trail Days celebration where she led the opening parade down Gering main street, revisiting the precise location where she and Cliff opened their florist business as newlyweds in 1947.
Nadine’s abiding positive outlook, generosity, and God-given inclination to see the good in others will be deeply missed by her family: Daughter Roxanne (the late Randy) Smith of Missoula, MT; daughter Natalie (David) Jenkins of Gering, NE; son Oak Lee (Crystal) Dietrich of Clifton, CO; grandson Ryan Smith of Louisville, KY; granddaughter Dr. Natasha Jenkins and her son Dex of Scottsbluff, NE; grandson Graham Smith of Coeur d’Alene, ID; granddaughter Dr. Jaclyn “Jaci” Jenkins (Lane) Lindburg and their daughter Palmer and son Luke of Omaha, NE; grandson Mitchel (Elsie) Dietrich of Grand Junction, CO; sister Ginger (the late Keith) Towne of Castle Rock, CO; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Nadine was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Cliff; her brother Walter (Aldora) Schmunk, and her nephews Jeffrey Towne and Jon Schmunk.
As Nadine has now entered the pearly gates of heaven, she leaves her enduring legacy on this Earth with her family and friends who know and love Jesus due to her personal walk with Christ. She has left the pain of this temporary life behind and has now entered into eternity with her Lord and Savior. She is experiencing first-hand exactly what her farewells on this Earth remind us of today, “The best is yet to come, so keep looking up!”