Diane Ullery

Born in North Dakota in April 1935, Diane was the beloved daughter of Rudy (Rudolph) and Evy (Evelyn) Helgeson. She was preceded in death by her parents and her youngest brother, Dennis Helgeson.

Diane graduated from Queen Anne High School, where she was a standout in the theater program, playing lead roles in productions like Oklahoma and Hansel & Gretel. At 18, she was selected as a candidate for the 1953 Seafair Queen and was named first runner-up. Diane was always humble about her accomplishments, and we only discovered this part of her story while looking through old photos.

After high school, Diane followed her passion for nursing and earned her degree from the University of Washington. She became a Registered Nurse and devoted her career to helping others, working well into her 60s. Her career began at Virginia Mason Hospital, where she was known for her skill, compassion, and calm presence in the surgical ward, impacting the lives of countless patients.

In 1956, Diane married Jerry Ullery, her loving husband of 66 years. Together, they built a life centered on love and family, first living in a Queen Anne apartment, and later in their home on N. 90th St.—just 11 blocks from their final resting place.

As Jerry pursued his lifelong engineering career in space, avionics, and military programs, he and Diane moved to La Mirada and Placentia in Orange County, California, before eventually settling in Kirkland, Washington, where they raised their six children.

Diane and Jerry shared a deep love for adventure. One of their most treasured experiences was a six-month assignment in Kwajalein, the largest of the Marshall Islands. So fond of their time on the island, they returned for a second six-month stay after a brief time back home.

After Jerry’s early retirement, the couple embraced their shared love of travel, planning cruises, international vacations, and road trips between Seattle and their winter retreat in Mesa, Arizona. Their journeys were marked by curiosity, joy, and meticulous planning.

Diane Mae (Helgeson) Ullery is now reunited with her husband, Jerold "Jerry" Ullery, who passed away in February 2022. She is survived by their six children: three daughters, Teresa (Ken) Hewitt, Sheri (Rick) Boldt, and Nancy (Ric) Henning; and three sons, John (Nicki) Ullery, Eric (Karen) Ullery, and Thomas Ullery. She is also survived by twelve grandchildren—Amy (Andrew) Lane, Julie Hewitt, Mark Hewitt, Ryan (Natalie) Boldt, Steven (Jesse) Boldt, Lindsey (Nick) Koske, Christopher (Jenn) Henning, Hannah Ullery, Dylan (Alea) Ullery, Chloe Ullery, Kyle Ullery, and Christa Ullery—and twelve great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members. Diane is also survived by her brother, Robert Helgeson, and her sister, Gayanne (Helgeson) Kuhn.

Diane loved her children and grandchildren deeply. She stayed involved in their lives, always joyfully interested in their adventures and accomplishments. Her legacy lives on through the warmth and devotion she instilled in her family.

A celebration of Diane’s life will be held on Friday, September 5, 2025, at 2:00 PM at First Lutheran Church in Bothell Washington..