The bench stands in front of a small War Memorial, allowing one to sit and contemplate at the memorial. They are both near the centre of Chewelah City Park, beside a creek running through the park. Born on November 25th, 1963 Noel, passed away tragically on November 18th, 1998. A nice website has been dedicated to Noel; an excerpt is below.
He carried the heart of a disciple and suffered the pain of a lost and broken soul.
He lived the dreams for his family working hard to support the life they yearned.
He traveled through a time that was hardened and unfiltered before him and gave his heart without question of deceit or unjust.
His own feelings were put aside as he turned to help others and give what he had and bless what he loved.
There was no question of the reality of the dignity he gave to others even if they didn't deserve it.
A loving husband once and a father of a numerous amount of foster children, a special brother of siblings whom admired him and a son of parents who would never give him up.
Born on November 25th, 1963 Noel Brady Dittmann brought a new meaning to the word life.
He was loved and cherished by so many that knew him until the day came of the horrible tragedy, an unclosed mystery of the last moments to his death sits in the minds of only those who were at the scene of our brothers loss who we have never forgiven for the untimely pattern of anguish that has been caused.
I am Noel's little sister writing this story and from my heart I will never believe anything different except that what was done to pursue the investigation of my brothers death was not enough. We may never know the reasons behind this but I will be guaranteed one thing. Our loss was nothing less than the most wonderful man we have ever known and not because he is our brother!
I loved Noel so much and there is nothing or anyone who can feel how I did and still do about him. He was always the one I turned to that would listen to me without judgment or carelessness in acknowledging his own thoughts about how he felt...(Continued)
From Noel Dittmann Memorial Site