Loren Joseph Dikeman

Loren Joseph Dikeman Jr. , age 83, passed away on October 11, 2026. He was born in Fort Morgan, CO on July 22, 1943 to Loren Joseph Dikeman Sr. and Edna Louise McLaughlin. He was married to Betty Joyce Wilson in 1963 and they had 4 children: Michael Dikeman of Montrose, Patrick Dikeman of Montrose, Maria Nichols of Montrose, and a daughter, Virginia Wood, who passed away in June 2026. They have 7 grandchildren: Sierra Dikeman, Elija Archer, Caleb Archer (Mary), Hayley Dikeman, Gavin Nichols, Drake Archer, and Adalyn Archer. They also have one great-grandchild, Isaiah Archer.

He has one brother, Bryan, of North Pole, Alaska and two sisters: Judith Hawkins of Aurora, CO and Joyce Kenner of Montrose, Co.

Loren graduated from Sterling High School and attended Colorado University at Boulder, CO. He was an Electronics Design Engineer. He worked for the Atomic Energy Commission at Rocky Flats near Denver, and General Electric at Pinellas Park, FL. Over the years he worked at Hammarlund Radio and C.P. Clare in NC, and at Trienco, Inc in Montrose, CO. He was also co-owner of Western Alternator in Montrose, CO. with his son Patrick.

Loren loved jeeping in the mountains in his 1983 Jeep CJ7, and camping at Owl Creek Pass which he did almost every year since he moved here in 1983. He took his family to many of the national parks and places of interest. He loved birds (parakeets and hummingbirds. As a teenager, he roller skated a lot, and later he took Betty, the kids, and the kids' friends to the roller rink weekly. He and Betty Square danced and did Round Dancing for almost 40 years. He and Betty also played pool at the Pavilion Senior Center almost every weekday for the last 10 years.

He loved children, and wished he could have had a farm where kids could come if they needed. He had many teenagers who knew his patience and willingness to teach them and advise them. On his daily walks, he would stop and talk to all the little ones he came to.

He was a jack-of-all-trades - working on his own cars, carpentry, welding, designing machinery or anything he wanted to build. He and his son, Michael, spent countless hours designing projects of all kinds.

Loren loved to tell jokes and funny stories to make people laugh. He could bring a smile to anyone he talked to.

Loren is survived by his wife, Betty; his sons, Michael and his wife, Mary; Patrick and his wife, Holly; his daughter, Maria and her husband Shawn Nichols; his grandchildren and great-grandchild.

He was predeceased by his daughter, Virginia Wood.

He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.