Dianne Maxine White

Born April 20, 1940 in Bemidji, Minnesota, she was the daughter of Joseph H. and Lilace M. (Brown) Heisler. They moved to Minot, North Dakota in 1952 where she graduated from Minot Model High School in 1958. She then attended Minot State receiving a Standard in Elementary Education.

In 1960 she married Ronal Chewakin and moved to San Carlos, California where daughter Kimberly was born. Son Todd was born after moving back to Minot in 1964. During the 60’s she substitute taught at South Prairie Elementary School in rural Minot and in the 70’s she worked in the family businesses.

In 1982 she finished her degree in Elementary Education and Special Education. In 1985 she moved to Phoenix, AZ and taught at a private school for the handicap and received her Masters at Arizona State University.

In 1987 she married Don White. After relocating to several places, they settled in Las Vegas, NV in 1991 where she continued her teaching career teaching Special Education students at Kenny C. Guinn Middle School until retiring in 2006.

She was a member of St. Mark’s Church in Minot and her hobbies were bowling and traveling. Her passion for bowling earned her several state titles in ND and a few trips to Nationals. She was crowned the ND State Bowling Queen in 1978 and she served on the ND Bowling Board of Directors for many years. She was inducted into the North Dakota State Bowling Hall of Fame in 1996. Her love for traveling took her to interesting destinations such as Spain during the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, an Alaskan Cruise in 2009 and travels to Stockholm, Sweden in 2016 with longtime significant other, Lee Kennedy.

She is survived by her former husband; children: Kimberly Meier (Todd) of Beulah, ND and Todd Chewakin of Henderson, NV; granddaughters: Brittney, Brook, and Stephanie; 5 great grandchildren; and nephew Sergio.

She is preceded in death by her husband Don; grandson Blaze; parents; sister Gale; and special friend Lee.

In memory of Dianne, the family is asking for memorials to be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.