March 18, 1947 - August 29, 2021
Ellen Paula Yurk (Deitrick), 74, passed away on August 29th, 2021, at McKee Medical Center in Loveland,
Colorado. Ellen was born March 18, 1947, in Clark Fork, Idaho to Rex Wallace Deitrick and Ellen
Fairbanks Deitrick. She married Howard Chris Yurk November 26, 1966, in Spokane, Washington. She
had three children, Kristin Dawn, Kyle David, and Ian Daniel.
Paula was the second of four children born to Rex W. and Ellen F. Deitrick. She was preceded in death by
her older brother, Rex Cliff Deitrick and both parents. She is survived by her younger siblings (twins)
Lynn Sterling Deitrick and Linda Adelia Call (Deitrick) and their respective spouses, Cynda (Broadhead)
Deitrick and Curtis Call. She leaves her husband, three children, a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and four
grandchildren.
She was born at home in the idyllic, small town of Clark Fork, Idaho - the delivery aided by the town
druggist! Her grandparents lived on a beautiful 100-acre homestead by the bank of the Pend Oreille
River. Paula, her mom, and her older brother Cliff, lived in the “small house”, adjacent to her
grandparents main home, waiting for Rex to come home from the war. Rex moved the family to
Spokane, Washington, when Paula was two, as he got a job at Kaiser Aluminum, Mead Plant.
They lived in Copeland Park housing for a year, then moved to E. 603 Rockwell, where she lived until married.
Paula attended Hamilton Grade School, then John R. Rodgers High School graduating in 1965. During
those school years, Paula’s mother gave birth to The Twins, Lynn and Linda. Paula honed her mothering
skills with her two adorable new siblings. She loved them both and, grew extremely close to Sister
Linda...they would Face Time one another every day, and travel to see each other at least once year.
Paula spent a summer visiting family in the California sun. When she returned to Spokane, she met H.
Chris Yurk on a blind date. After a year of long-distance dating, they were on November 26, 1966. They
lived in Oak Harbor, Washington for five months, until he was released from the Navy, moving then to
Englewood, Colorado to live with his parents, briefly, then moved to Loveland, Colorado where Chris
had bought a dental practice in Berthoud, CO., where they lived for 20 years. After Chris sold the dental
practice, they became semi-nomadic! Living in Ft. Collins for a time, then moving back to Loveland,
where they live, at this time.
Paula loved cross-stitching and would spend countless hours creating beautiful examples of the craft.
She was an excellent cook and loved having her children and other family members over for Sunday
dinners. Her organizational skills were impressive and put to good use during her 17 years working for
Front Range Orthopedic Center. She started as a filing clerk, worked up to reception and eventually
worked as a medical transcriptionist. She will be dearly missed in her roles as wife, mother,
grandmother, but we’re glad the pain &health related trials she endured for many years is now at an
end.
We love you Paula, remember you fondly and look forward to our reunion in eternity
