Deloris Hazel Dunham

Deloris Dunham, 94, of Barnesville, MN, passed away on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Valley Care and Rehab in Barnesville, MN.

Funeral services will be held at North Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Pelican Rapids on Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 11:00 am with visitation one hour prior to the service. A visitation will be held at Dobmeier Funeral Home in Barnesville, MN on Tuesday, April 1, from 5-7 pm with a prayer service at 7:00 pm. Services will be officiated by Rev. Roger Michaelson.

Deloris Hazel (Arntson) Dunham was born April 21, 1930 to Oscar and Tena (Haglund) Arntson at the Lunder Maternity Home in Barnesville, MN. She was baptized before leaving the maternity home per Oscar’s request. She was the oldest of four children and became a caretaker from an early age. She attended country school in the Rollag area, close to home, with her brother, Edwin. They graduated from Barnesville High School in 1949. She attended business school in Fargo for a three-month secretarial training course.

Growing up she was active in and an officer for 4-H along with participating in Luther League at Gran Lutheran Church where she was confirmed. She demonstrated bread making at the MN State Fair.

She met the love of her life when her cousin Elerth asked her to go on a double date with him and his girlfriend, Rosella Dunham. The rest is history. Herman said he knew he wanted to marry her that first time they met. They were married at Gran Lutheran Church on October 21, 1950. They raised their own six children, two more 'children of their hearts', and a multitude of other kids found a good place to stay each summer. Deloris expected her children to be kind and faithful.

Between the two of them Herman & Deloris had 12 godchildren. Throughout her lifetime Deloris had many titles: daughter, sister, granddaughter, cousin, wife, sister-in-law, mother, mother-in-law, godmother, grandmother, great-grandmother, neighbor, Sunday School teacher, Ladies Aid President, Luther League Secretary, 4-H leader, and friend.

She joined North Immanuel Lutheran Church after marrying Herman and remained a faithful member until the time of her death.

Deloris is survived by her children: Dorie (Terry) Sweeney, Leon (Donna) Dunham, Leslie (Joanne) Dunham, Dawn (Wayne) Shulstad, Nolan (Candi) Dunham, David (Shelly) Dunham, Kathy Evavold, and J.R. Rasmusson; sister Maybelle Edmondson; brother Gordon Arntson; sister-in-law Carol Regelstad; 17 grandchildren, and 31+ great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Herman; brother Edwin Arntson; sisters-in-law: Joyce Arntson, Darlene Arntson, Irene Krier, Rosella Arntson, Ruby Dunham, Mavis Regelstad; brothers-in-law: Raymond Krier, Juleen Dunham, Elerth Arntson, and John Regelstad.