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Della Mae Magnus Obituary
It is with heavy hearts that our family announces the passing from this life of our dear mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, Della-Mae Kate Magnus (née Church), on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at the age of 95 years.
Della-Mae will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her daughter Jacqueline Hagel (Greg); their four children, Jarrett (Mandie) Hagel and great-granddaughters Aidin, Emma Mae (named after her) and Sophie; Kaleb; Zachary (Lourdes) and great-grandson Bennett; Mikayla (Madison); her son Michael Magnus and his son Daniel (Gonca); her sister Lois Gurney in Tennessee; as well as numerous extended family, nephews, nieces, and friends.
She was predeceased by her parents, James and Arrie Church; husband Ervin Magnus; and siblings Nella Fae Church, David (Lois) Church, Claude (Grace) Church, Anna Miller, Stella (James) Smiley, June (Lynn) Hedger, and Marjorie Church.
Della was born November 1, 1928, in Mountain City, Tennessee, to James and Arrie Church, a family of nine children and seven half-siblings from James' first marriage to Sarah Arnold. The family planted and harvested beans, as Johnson County was known to be the bean capital of the states, and the soil was such that crops yielded well. James also operated the area's molasses still, which was known to be both an art and science. Music was central in the family, and the banjo was the instrument that gathered family and friends. James (father), Mitchell (brother) and nephews, Denver and Porter, were well-known for their musical skills and the claw-hammer style of playing. That talent saw Nashville, and some of those skills went on to play alongside some of the famous fathers of bluegrass music, including Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs and Rascal Flatts. Family gatherings with shared food, games, laughter and dancing were happy times and breaks from the hard work with an all-hands-on-deck attitude that gathered them to work together as a family.
Della's favourite childhood memories were made at summer camp (Children's Bible Mission Camps), where she developed her deep faith, the cornerstone of her life. As young Della graduated from Johnson County High School, she went on to Southeastern College in Birmingham, Alabama, where she earned her Bachelor of Theology (1952) and began her career as a missionary, educator, program and curriculum developer, and radio broadcaster. The young graduate was recruited by the West Indies Mission (1953) and travelled to begin her work in the Dominican Republic and Cuba. There, she worked with Ervin's cousin, Irene Fisher, who introduced Della and Ervin by mail. After years of exchanging love letters and a lifelong love deeply rooted, the revolution in Cuba began, and Mom was forced to return to the United States. This became Della and Ervin's first meeting and the continuation of their love story.
June 10, 1961, Della-Mae married Ervin, the love of her life, in Mountain City, Tennessee, and they began their family life together in Tisdale, SK. They operated a grain and oilseeds farming business (e.g., wheat, flax, canola) where Della and Ervin worked as partners in all areas of their lives. They had two children, Jacqueline and Michael, and enjoyed a full family life in Tisdale with many extended trips across the United States and Canada, visiting and connecting with family, sight-seeing and adventure-seeking. Della and Ervin also shared a commitment to community and served the local church and community on many boards, committees and work groups.
Their love continued to flourish as they enjoyed the arrival of many grandchildren and great-grandchildren and opportunities to appreciate life with their extended family. They retired at St. Andrews-by-the-Lake near Penticton, BC, and that became the new vacation spot for the family with orchard tours, golfing, mountain hikes and family games around the dining table. Della and Ervin continued their passion for serving others and travelled with various groups to work in Honduras and the Philippines well into their 80s. There, they helped to build churches and schools and supported medical clinics and outreach in the rural communities. During their later years, the couple settled back in Regina, SK, where they lived out the rest of their years near family.
The family would like to extend their gratitude for the compassionate care and service of the staff at Wascana Rehabilitation Center, Unit 2-6.
Celebration of Della's Life will be held at Living Hope Alliance Church, 3800 Green Falls Drive, Regina, SK, on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at 2:00 p.m., with a reception to follow.
Memorial donations may be made to The Gideons International - P.O. Box 97251, Washington, DC, 20090-7251 or by visiting www.gideons.org/donate.
To view the livestream of the service and to leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.speersfuneralchapel.com
Della-Mae will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her daughter Jacqueline Hagel (Greg); their four children, Jarrett (Mandie) Hagel and great-granddaughters Aidin, Emma Mae (named after her) and Sophie; Kaleb; Zachary (Lourdes) and great-grandson Bennett; Mikayla (Madison); her son Michael Magnus and his son Daniel (Gonca); her sister Lois Gurney in Tennessee; as well as numerous extended family, nephews, nieces, and friends.
She was predeceased by her parents, James and Arrie Church; husband Ervin Magnus; and siblings Nella Fae Church, David (Lois) Church, Claude (Grace) Church, Anna Miller, Stella (James) Smiley, June (Lynn) Hedger, and Marjorie Church.
Della was born November 1, 1928, in Mountain City, Tennessee, to James and Arrie Church, a family of nine children and seven half-siblings from James' first marriage to Sarah Arnold. The family planted and harvested beans, as Johnson County was known to be the bean capital of the states, and the soil was such that crops yielded well. James also operated the area's molasses still, which was known to be both an art and science. Music was central in the family, and the banjo was the instrument that gathered family and friends. James (father), Mitchell (brother) and nephews, Denver and Porter, were well-known for their musical skills and the claw-hammer style of playing. That talent saw Nashville, and some of those skills went on to play alongside some of the famous fathers of bluegrass music, including Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs and Rascal Flatts. Family gatherings with shared food, games, laughter and dancing were happy times and breaks from the hard work with an all-hands-on-deck attitude that gathered them to work together as a family.
Della's favourite childhood memories were made at summer camp (Children's Bible Mission Camps), where she developed her deep faith, the cornerstone of her life. As young Della graduated from Johnson County High School, she went on to Southeastern College in Birmingham, Alabama, where she earned her Bachelor of Theology (1952) and began her career as a missionary, educator, program and curriculum developer, and radio broadcaster. The young graduate was recruited by the West Indies Mission (1953) and travelled to begin her work in the Dominican Republic and Cuba. There, she worked with Ervin's cousin, Irene Fisher, who introduced Della and Ervin by mail. After years of exchanging love letters and a lifelong love deeply rooted, the revolution in Cuba began, and Mom was forced to return to the United States. This became Della and Ervin's first meeting and the continuation of their love story.
June 10, 1961, Della-Mae married Ervin, the love of her life, in Mountain City, Tennessee, and they began their family life together in Tisdale, SK. They operated a grain and oilseeds farming business (e.g., wheat, flax, canola) where Della and Ervin worked as partners in all areas of their lives. They had two children, Jacqueline and Michael, and enjoyed a full family life in Tisdale with many extended trips across the United States and Canada, visiting and connecting with family, sight-seeing and adventure-seeking. Della and Ervin also shared a commitment to community and served the local church and community on many boards, committees and work groups.
Their love continued to flourish as they enjoyed the arrival of many grandchildren and great-grandchildren and opportunities to appreciate life with their extended family. They retired at St. Andrews-by-the-Lake near Penticton, BC, and that became the new vacation spot for the family with orchard tours, golfing, mountain hikes and family games around the dining table. Della and Ervin continued their passion for serving others and travelled with various groups to work in Honduras and the Philippines well into their 80s. There, they helped to build churches and schools and supported medical clinics and outreach in the rural communities. During their later years, the couple settled back in Regina, SK, where they lived out the rest of their years near family.
The family would like to extend their gratitude for the compassionate care and service of the staff at Wascana Rehabilitation Center, Unit 2-6.
Celebration of Della's Life will be held at Living Hope Alliance Church, 3800 Green Falls Drive, Regina, SK, on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at 2:00 p.m., with a reception to follow.
Memorial donations may be made to The Gideons International - P.O. Box 97251, Washington, DC, 20090-7251 or by visiting www.gideons.org/donate.
To view the livestream of the service and to leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.speersfuneralchapel.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by Humboldt Journal from Mar. 20 to Apr. 20, 2024.
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