Dianne Bennett

Dianne Elizabeth Bennett (65, Colorado) died peacefully in her home surrounded by her family on September 2, 2026. She was a cherished wife, mother, sister, friend, teacher, and nana. Her presence will be deeply missed.

Dianne was born in 1960 in Denver. She was the eldest daughter to Bobby Reeves and Frances Schlede and older sister to Dana and Jamie Reeves. She grew up incredibly close to her maternal grandparents, George and Marguerite Schlede. She graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1979 and attended college at Arapahoe Community College for Early Childhood Education and University of Northern Colorado for Elementary Education. She earned two masters degrees in Gifted and Talented Education at University of Northern Colorado and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education from Grand Canyon University.

Dianne had two families: her blood family and her work family. She loved both deeply. She began teaching kindergarten at St. Joseph’s Catholic School until it closed. She was married in 1986 to her husband, Bert Bennett, and together they had three children, Hollie, Benjamin, and Emily. She took time off to be a stay-at-home mom with her three children before returning to work in Mapleton School District. She began teaching Multilingual Education at Monterrey Elementary and then moved to York International School until she retired in 2026.

When Dianne was not teaching, she loved trailer camping with her husband and dog, Dexter. She also loved spending time with family; her three children, their partners, and her two grandchildren. She loved to crochet and find special gifts for those she loved. She was a lifelong learner and shared that love for learning with everyone she met.

Dianne was predeceased by her grandparents, Marguerite and George, and her parents, Bobby and Fran. She is survived by her husband, Bert, her sisters, Dana Reeves (David Coons) and Jamie Reeves, and her children, Hollie Ryckman (Alex Ryckman), Benjamin Bennett (Sidney Romero), and Emily Bennett (Nathan Gates), as well as her grandchildren, Margalo and Constance Ryckman, nieces and nephews, Patrick and Michael (Candice, Emma, Olivia) Reeves, Justin (Cherry, Kailynn, Jenae, Peighton) Bennett, and many friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites memorial contributions to the Mapleton Education Foundation to help establish the Dianne Bennett Memorial Scholarship, honoring her many years of service to the students and families of Mapleton. Donations may be made at http://mapletonedfoundation.org or mailed to the Mapleton Education Foundation, 7350 Broadway, Denver, CO 80221. Please include “Dianne Bennett Memorial Scholarship” with your gift.

Dianne’s family will be hosting a Celebration of Life on September 28, 2026 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm at the Anythink Nature Library, 6811 E 136th Ave, Thornton, CO 80602.

Please contribute memories and photos at this link: https://forms.gle/oKsoardqdfTpsudw9