Sally Christine Dietrich

Longtime La Junta and Las Animas resident Christine Dietrich (neé Dickey) died Wednesday night Dec. 16, 2009 at theAVRMC Nursing Care Center

She was born in Altheimer, Ark, to Ralph Alonzo Dickey and Sallie Garrett Dickey on June 15, 1915. Drawn to music from an early age, and gifted with absolute pitch, Mrs. Dietrich majored in music at Henderson State College in Arkansas. After graduation, she taught music in the Galup N.M. public school system. While there, she met her future husband, Frank Dietrich.

Mrs. Dietrich was accepted into a prestigious masters prograin at the Cincinnati Conservatory of music and spent one summer studying there. Because very few women had concert careers at that time, Mrs. Dietrich dedicated herself to her family and students, rather than to a performance career. She left the masters program, returned to Gallup, and married FrankDietrich in 1943.

After World War II, the Dietrich couple move to Pueblo, then to Las Animas, where they raised their three children. Mrs. Dietiich gave private piano lessons and taught music in the Las Animas public school system.

She was active in the Methodist Church in Las Animas and served as organist and choir director there for many years. She organized and participated in several chamber music groups as well. Ln the 1970’s she and her husband built a harpsichord, which she played in an early music ensemb1e that they founded.

Mrs. Dietrich was an extraordinary pianist, and sensitive interpreter of very difficult classical pieces. Even at age 92, she performed Beethoven’s demanding C minor Piano Sonata (“Pathetique”) in a public recital at Casa del Sol, there residence of the last 10 years.

Mrs. Dietrich belonged to the women’s group PEO all her adult life. She loved book clubs, Scrabble and Bridge, and was an avid bird-watcher.

Mrs. Dietrich’s husband, Frank, precedid her in death by two days, ref1ecting their lifelong close connection. They are survived by daughters Sally and Susan, son Larry, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.


A memorial service will be Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009, at 10:00 a.m., at the United Methodist Church of La Junta.