Delores G. Curtis' Obituary
Delores G. (Vilhauer) Curtis, 85, daughter of August and Anna Mary (Jundt) Vilhauer, was born on July 10, 1931 in Hosmer, South Dakota. She was the ninth of twelve siblings; she had five brothers and six sisters. She grew up on the farm, and learned to play the piano at an early age. She continued to work into early adulthood assisting her sisters in Golden Valley, North Dakota on their farms.
In 1957, Delores lead a Sunday school at Turtle Lake, and on October 4, 1958, at Golden Valley, North Dakota, Delores married Wilburn J. Curtis. Within the same year they were married, they moved to Fargo, North Dakota, and pastored a church there until 1960. To be closer to Wilburn's family, they moved to South Carolina where Wilburn pastored a church in Moselle. In 1962, Delores and Wilburn returned to the Turtle Lake COGOP she had helped to organize, where Wilburn would this time pastor. Over the years her pastorates included: Turtle Lake & Fargo, ND, and Lobeco, SC, whether as a pastor or pastor's wife.
They moved to Jamestown, North Dakota in 1963, and just two years later, on February 25, 1965, Sheri Lynn was born. Wilburn, Delores and Sheri moved to Bismark, North Dakota, in 1969, before moving to Washington in 1974 to work with Delores' sister Geri, and Geri's husband David Johnson. The Curtis family settled in the Tacoma, Washington area.
Delores welcomed her first grandchild Suzanna Lynn in May of 1986, her second grandchild Eric Ray in September of 1988, and her third grandchild Justin Michael in December of 1991. A few years later Wilburn passed peacefully in his sleep, in June of 1996.
Delores loved her family and was devoted to caring for her daughter Sheri, as well as her grandchildren Suzanna, Eric and Justin.
Throughout the years, specifically within the church ministry, Delores played the piano and her accordion regularly in church services. She would invite friends and family over, never ending without pulling out the accordion, playing the organ, or singing a song.
In 2007, Delores retired just prior to her 76th birthday. Delores, Sheri, Justin, Eric and his fiancé Diana relocated to Golden Valley, North Dakota. In the same summer, Delores witnessed the first marriage of one of her grandchildren when Eric and Diana exchanged vows in July of 2007. In 2008, they sold their house in Golden Valley and returned to Tacoma.
In 2009, Delores suffered a stroke due to complications from surgery. The stroke left her paralyzed on her left side and advanced her dementia. With the help of her daughter Sheri, Justin and his fiancé Serena, and Eric and Diana as primary caregivers, Delores' family was able to provide her comfort and allow her to remain with family at home. Unexpectantly, her time with us ended Sunday afternoon, April 30, 2017, while resting peacefully. She was surrounded by grandchildren and great grandchildren, August Ray and Amira Maria.
Delores is survived by her sisters Olga Rueb, Geraldine Engen, and Luella Deutscher, her daughter Sheri Lynn, her grandchildren Suzanna Lynn and her husband Robert Schertz, Eric Ray and Diana, Justin Michael and Serena, and her great grandchildren August Ray and Amira Maria.
A visitation will be held 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Saturday, May 6, 2017 at Mountain View Funeral Home and Memorial Park, Lakewood. Followed by a 3:00 PM Memorial Service at Rivers Fellowship Church, 1601 110th St. S., Tacoma.
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