Delores was born March 23, 1943, mid-WWII to Willis and Letha Primus of Vinton, Iowa. She and her older brother, Donald, thrived and grew under the Iowa sunshine where she completed her elementary and high school classes. Delores was very active in the Disciples of Christ Church where she was baptized as a teenager. She worked and served in her community in various roles including riding her bicycle on her paper route, serving as a hospital aide and a certified swim instructor and lifeguard, active member and president of her county 4-H program, as well as working at the town drugstore and her parents’ hardware and appliance store. Upon graduating from high school in 1961, Delores attended Iowa State University in Ames where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Home Economics and Interior Design in 1965.
In her desire to serve, she enrolled in the Kennedy-era Peace Corps program and served in Niger, Africa, during which time she met her husband, Paul, who also served in the same audio/visual project. They were married in Niamey, Niger, at the Baptist Mission Church on June 26, 1966. They returned to the United States after two years of service, and the couple made their home in Downey, California. In 1969, Delores accepted a position at William E. Beltz Regional High School in Nome, Alaska, where she taught Home Economics and Art. She loved teaching and enjoyed watching her students solve problems in creative ways. Delores and Paul lived in Nome for 18 years and had all three of their children during that time. In 1971, they welcomed their firstborn, Matthew Floyd followed by daughter, Angela Letha, in 1976. Matthew went to his heavenly home with his Lord and Savior in 1981 at nine years of age and their youngest daughter, Margaret Ann, joined the family in 1982.
In 1985, Delores and Paul decided to move their family from Nome and establish a farm in Hayes County. While in Nebraska, Delores committed her time to her family, church, and community. She was actively involved as a 4-H volunteer and judge, member of St. John Lutheran Church and LWML, developed and tended her flower and vegetable gardens and enjoyed sharing the produce and blooms with neighbors and friends, helped to plan and host many family reunions, and joyfully spent time with her children and grandchildren whenever possible. Together Paul and Delores shared many traveling adventures with their family. She lived her life abundantly, loved her husband, family, and friends well, and shared her love for and trust in Jesus confidently with many whom she met throughout her lifetime.
Delores’ health condition recently advanced to Acute Myleoid Leukemia. She mounted a courageous effort to cope with its effects and continued to live life fully and joyfully. Delores spent her last days in her home attended and surrounded by her family. Jesus took her soul to be eternally with Him in her heavenly home on August 7, 2021, at the age of 78. She will be remembered for her cheerful attitude and faith and will be greatly missed by her family, friends, church, and community this side of Heaven.
Delores is survived by her husband of 55 years, Paul of Hayes County, Nebraska, two daughters, Angela (Peter) Hansen of Nome, Alaska, and Margaret (Brent) Sankey of Hayes County, Nebraska, seven grandchildren (Gareth, Alina, Clara, Luke, Agneshka, Konstantine and Nicholas), and her brother Don (Marcia) Primus of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her precious son, Matthew, and her beloved parents, Willis and Letha Primus.
A celebration of life service will be held at St. John Lutheran Church in Curtis, Nebraska, at 11 am on Thursday, August 12, followed by a luncheon at the church. Graveside services will be held at 2 pm at St. John Lutheran White Cemetery in rural eastern Hayes County followed by a reception at the Orman farm. Memorials may be sent to St. John Lutheran Church in Curtis, Nebraska, or to the Hayes County Ambulance Fund.