Diane Lee Arndt-Joern-Dennis was born on March 8, 1945 at Trinity Hospital in Minot, ND the oldest child of Harold and Lena (Schmidt) Arndt. She was raised on a farm southwest of Berthold along with her siblings Duane, Paul and Judy. Diane attended Mandan Country School #1, north of her home until 8th grade, she attended Dakota Lutheran School in Minot for two years and graduated from Berthold High School and graduated with the Class of 1962.

Diane went to Minot Business College for nine months before taking a job as a secretary at First National Bank for one year. She was then employed by Anderson Equipment as office manager for three years. It was while she was working there that she met her soon to be lifelong friends, Dianne Giroux and Bruce & Donna Beeter.

In 1964, she married Garry Joern. In 1968 they moved to Pennsylvania, and they later divorced. She worked for Thiokol as a business manager. Then in 1975 she moved to St. Louis, MO, to be closer to her brother, Duane. She was employed at Engineered Sales as their business manager before moving to Columbia, MO to raise Quarter Horses and work part time at a psychologist's office. She married Jim Dennis in 1985. Diane was very proud to have trained "Bubba", a favorite horse of hers she eventually sold him to her niece, Amber, who showed him in ND winning many ribbons and awards. She was the secretary of the Missouri Reining Horse Association for a number of years. She loved this job and enjoyed all the people she got to meet and visit with.

In 2008 she returned to North Dakota to be closer to her family. Diane loved to spend time with her family. She enjoyed going to many activities for her grandnephews and grandniece, including; archery shoots, goat & mini horse shows at the NDSF, dance recitals and school performances. She had special relationships with each of them. She liked to crochet, sew, attend craft shows, collect Madam Alexander Dolls, Santa Claus decorations and play Solitaire on her iPad at all hours of the day and night. She was known for her perfect penmanship & shorthand, love of "blingy" things, always attending most days of the ND State Fair and Norsk Hostfest.

Diane liked to travel, she went on RV trips with Judy, Kevin and their grandkids. She and Dianne loved their trips to Hawaii and Jamaica where they would dress up and enjoy the beautiful surroundings, Hawaii was one of her favorite places.

Her loving family includes: brother, Paul (Janet Fisher) Arndt; sister, Judy (Kevin) Myers; nieces & nephews & their families: Joey (Suzanne), Anders & Ellis Arndt, Gloria (Mikey Beal), & Gwendolyn Arndt; Del (Robin), & Tia Arndt, Anthony (Crystal), & Graedyn Johnson; Heather, Alex & Caol Arndt, Jeremy & Brian Arndt; Dustin (Nicole), Ethan & Karter Myers, Dana & Jacob Saunders & Ryia Beeter, Amber (Jack Small) Myers; husband, James Dennis of Columbia, MO and his children, Jimmy, Jeff, Jennifer, & Joey; aunt Dianna Arndt; several cousins; her best friend, Dianne Giroux; and her faithful companion who was always by her side her Schnauzer, Heidi.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Duane, grandparents and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Celebration of Life Service: Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.

Interment: Sunset Memorial Gardens, Minot. A time of fellowship will take place at LaQuinta Inns & Suites (1605 35th Ave SW, Minot) from 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Visitation: Tuesday, May 29th from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials are preferred to Souris Valley Animal Shelter or Trinity Hospice.