Eugenia “Jean” Dietz, 97, Belfield, died on Sunday, December 14, 2025 at Benedictine Living Community, Dickinson. Jean’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, December 20, 2025 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, Belfield with Fr. Shane Campbell as celebrant. Inurnment will take place at St. Bernard’s Cemetery, Belfield, on Sunday at 12 p.m. Visitation will be 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson with a Rosary & Vigil at 7 p.m. with Deacon Loren Kordonowy presiding. Visitation will continue one hour to the Mass at the church.
Eugenia I. Schaff was born May 12, 1928 in Mineral Springs Township, Slope County, ND, the daughter of Michael and Selma (Obrigewitch) Schaff. On October 1, 1935, they moved to Belfield where she started grade school. She graduated in May 1947 from Belfield High School. She worked at Maw Perkins Café in Cooke City, MT. Jean went on to Dickinson State Teachers College where she received her teaching degree. Her first job was at a country school four miles south of Belfield, teaching all eight grades. This was the beginning of her six-year teaching career.
On January 13, 1949, Jean married the love of her life, John P. Dietz. They lived in New England for a short while until they purchased John’s parents (Andrew and Josephine Dietz) farmstead south of Belfield. Jean resided on the farm until her move to the Benedictine Living Community in Dickinson.
As a farmer’s wife, Jean worked along John with all the chores and harvesting, raising cattle, chickens, and pigs. Their marriage was not blessed with children, but she loved and cared for all of her siblings and their children. She was a devote Christian and very active at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church. Jean had many close friends that she enjoyed card and coffee gatherings with.
She belonged to Christian Mothers Guild, lifetime member of the William C. Blair Post 144 American Legion Auxiliary, Belfield Senior Citizens, Pioneer Birthday Club, and Germans from Russia Group.
Jean loved quilting, crafting, tatting, knitting, weaving, sewing and painting. Gardening and tending to her flowers was very special to her. She loved to feed the wildlife that visited her yard.
Jean is survived by her siblings, Magdalene Dolyniuk, Beach, James (Beverly) Schaff, Moorhead, MN, Rose Ella Wilson, Burlington, WI, and Joan (Jim) Goplin, Fargo; sisters-in-law, Patti Schaff, Salem, OH and Becky Schaff, Belfield; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Dietz; her parents; in-laws, Andrew and Josephine Dietz; siblings, Frank (Joanne) Schaff, Matt (Josephine) Schaff, David Schaff, and Nolan Schaff; brothers-in-law, Phil Dolyniuk and Lyle Wilson; and several nieces and nephews.