Delores Falla

Delores Falla age 97 of Arlington passed away Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at Dakota Sun Assisted Living in Volga, South Dakota.

Funeral services for Delores Falla will be 1:00 PM Monday, December 29, 2025, at Lake Whitewood Church with Pastor Hannah Fleming officiating. Burial will be in the Lake Whitewood Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday, December 28, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Crawford-Osthus (formerly Johnson-Henry) Funeral Chapel in Arlington, SD.

Arrangements have been entrusted with Crawford-Osthus (formerly Johnson-Henry) Funeral Chapel in Arlington, SD.

Delores Arlene (Phelps) Falla was born March 5, 1928 to Mette Louise (Pedersen) and Walter World Phelps at their home in rural Badger. She attended 3 years school at a country School just a mile away from their home before going to Badger for the remainder of her grade school. She told the story of the neighbor kids coming by with their cart pulled by a pony to take her to the country school. She then attended High School in Hetland SD. She stayed at the boarding house which was above the café during the week because it was too far to drive every day.

She married Donald Allen Falla on July 22, 1946. He was home after basic training from the Army before shipping out to Japan during WW II. Four children were born to this union. Linda Lou (John) Heisler, Estelline, SD, Galen Alvin Falla, Arlington, SD, Dena Marie (Mark) Weddell, Dallas Center, IA and Jolene Kay (Gary) Zeeck, Lake Preston, SD. She has a total of 11 Grandchildren, 27 Great-Grandchildren and 1 Great-Great Granddaughter born just this fall.

Delores was always a hard worker. She worked at the Café in Hetland before Donald returned from Japan when they moved to a small house that Donald's parents moved to the farm place next to their home so that they could both help with the farm. After Dena was born, the growing family switched houses with Donald's parents and moved into the big home. Delores helped on the farm doing field work and fixing meals for hired help. She always kept a beautiful flower garden around the house and a huge garden. She canned a lot of vegetables that lasted the entire year. Delores made all the clothes for herself and the 3 girls. Delores was a lifetime member of the Whitewood Lutheran Church and served many positions on the church board and Ladies Aide group. She aways had time to help making quilts at church to give to missions. She was a very good seamstress. That skill was the reason she started the Falla Upholstery business in the late 1970's which she ran until retirement when she turned 65. In 1997 she and Donald moved into Arlington where she lived until 2021. After retirement she still made many quilts that she gave to family and friends. She also did a lot of fancy work that she also gave to family and friends. After a fall in 2021, she moved into Dakota Sun Assisted Living in Volga, SD.

Delores was always ready for a birthday, anniversary, or other celebration. Anytime the event was at her home, she would make her famous fried chicken, apple pie, chocolate cake or other wonderful, sweet treats. Her family was always the most important part of her life. And her family felt the same way toward her and always spent time visiting with her. She held the title of having more visitors than any of the other residents at Dakota Sun.

She will be going to join, in heaven, the love of her life Donald Falla, her sister Darlene Joyce Stensgaard, and her Parents. She will be missed by all her family and friends.
The family is especially grateful for the loving care she received at Dakota Sun Assisted Living. Bev and KariRae are the best.