Diane Elizabeth Mossey Young

Diane Elizabeth Mossey Young, 83, died of complications from Alzheimer’s Disease February 28, 2025.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on May 29th, 2024, at 10:30 a.m., at the First Congregational Church Great Falls - UCC. at 2900 9th Ave S, Great Falls, MT, 59405, followed by a reception and luncheon at the Fellowship Hall. To livestream the event, please contact the church office for details (406) 453-4316, or greatfallsucc.org. Schneider Funeral Home has provided cremation services.

Diane was one of the first babies born on October 24, 1940, in the Cederholm Maternity Home in Denton, MT, attended by Dr. Turner. She was the second girl born out of five children to her parents Leon “Cap” Ralph Mossey and Doris Evelyn (Wilson) Mossey; sisters Cheri Schmidt of Fairfield, MT; Sue Quick of Denton, MT; and Kathy Powers of Parnell, MO. Her brother Leon Jr. passed in infancy. The family farmed northeast of Denton.

Diane graduated from Denton High School in the Class of 1958, as Valedictorian of her class (as did each of her sisters).

Diane attended the University of Montana and graduated with honors with a double major in Mathematics and German, was awarded Phi Kappa Phi, was a member of Mortar Board, served as Student Government Secretary, Tri Delta Sorority, a Student Resident Monitor in her dormitory, and was also active in the Spurs Service honorary.

She met her husband Raymond C. Young, of Lewistown, MT, after he transferred from Montana State College (Montana State University-Bozeman) to the University of Montana. He met her when he was having trouble finding a classroom building on campus. She was at the Spurs table directing freshmen and new students to their lectures on campus. The two of them kept bumping into each other on campus over the academic year.

At the beginning of their dating, Ray realized that Johnny Cash was one of her favorite vocalists. Diane assured him he would enjoy the Cash concert in the Fieldhouse. Talk about a first dose! Come to think of it, she asked Ray out to that concert.

Next on her list was a student rodeo competition which Ray “asked” her to go to. Not long later, Ray decided that his dating selection would be narrowed down to one - Diane.

In the summer of 1961, Ray asked Diane to marry him. On December 28, 1961, in Denton, MT, Ray and Diane tied the knot. They still had more school to finish up, graduating in May of 1962. Diane taught seventh grade math for one year in Lewistown until the couple decided to move to Denver, CO. This move allowed the couple to grow as friends, professionally, and as a family. In the 9 years they stayed in Denver, three children were born: Stephen Christopher, and Denise.

While in Denver, Diane did math tutoring and paper grading for teachers, but had her hands full with family. She was active with the League of Women Voters (LWV) and their church - the Kirk of Bonnie Brae, a Congregational UCC Church all in Denver.

During this time, Diane’s father Leon passed away from a heart attack. This caused the couple to reevaluate their stay in Denver and moved back to Great Falls, Montana to be closer to their families.

Ray and Diane settled into their new life. Ray was appointed City Finance Director of Great Falls and later opened his own CPA practice. Diane became active as a math substitute teacher and was an active member and officer with the local and state chapters of the LWV, served with the Public Radio KGPR board, and the Great Falls First Congregational Church - UCC, and eventually worked with her husband as the office manager at his CPA practice.

Diane always kept her kids busy whether it be with gardening, crafting, house painting, knitting, embroidery, rug hooking, puzzles, hiking and camping, birding, etc; the kids were never bored. There were times when the kids even got into trouble for their “never bored” attempts (water fights, hamburger fights, D&D).

Diane was preceded in death by her mother Doris, her father Leon Sr., her sisters Cheri, and Kathy and her infant brother Leon Jr.

Diane is survived by her husband Raymond Young, her children and their spouses and her eight grandchildren: Stephen and his wife Elizabeth of Omaha, NE, and their children Charles, Alexandria; Christopher and his wife Karin Dahl of Bozeman, MT, and their children, Erin, Georgia, and twins Will and Rowan; and Denise Jackson and her husband Matthew of Great Falls, MT and their children, James, Danica. She is also survived by her sister Sue Quick, of Denton, MT, and a number of nieces and nephews.

Many thanks to Peace Hospice for Diane’s excellent and loving end of life care. As Diane was a victim of Alzheimer’s disease, memorials or donations may be given to Alzheimer’s Research at McLaughlin Research Institute at 1520 23rd St S, Great Falls, MT 59405, or the First Congregational Church Great Falls Memorial Fund at 2900 9th Ave S, Great Falls, MT 59405, or similar charity of your choice in lieu of flowers.