Delora "Noke" Stickelman

1952 - 2023

Delora "Noke" Stickelman, 70, of North Platte, took the journey with Our Father who art in heaven on January 4, 2023, at Great Plains Health surrounded by her family. She was born on June 11, 1952, in Gothenburg, the daughter of Nobel and Maxine Connelly. She grew up south of Brady on the Connelly family farm by the river where she enjoyed riding horses and farming. She graduated from Brady High School and started truck driving for area hay mills. Delora married Harry Stickelman and together they had three children: Wesley, Tonya and Patrick. Delora lived on the farm off and on throughout her life, helping care for her parents alongside her brothers and sister. She also worked in local cafes in Gothenburg and at the Hitchin' Post in Brady. She drove a water truck on a road construction crew in Denver. She received a cosmetology degree and worked at Leita's in North Platte and then at Walmart where she loved socializing with the many people she knew and encountered. There wasn't anything she couldn't do with her never give up determination. She loved passionately and her strong and cool personality made it easy to come to her for advice like "Don't get caught!" She would look at you with those beautiful blue eyes and give reassurance that "everything will be ok, it always is." And it always was. Delora enjoyed barrel racing, getting dressed to the 9's and dancing in high heels, attending concerts, taking her nieces and nephews swimming at Jeffrey Lake, doing embroidery work and planting flowers. She always was ready for an afternoon motorcycle ride, or heading out to shoot guns or play pool. She loved "Gus" in the movie Lonesome Dove and would often reference "By God Woodrow; it's been one hell of a party." The river was her favorite place in the world alongside spending time with her children and grandchildren. Delora was preceded in death by her parents Nobel and Maxine; her brother, David Connelly; sister-in-law, Linda Connelly; boyfriend, Sonny Edmonds; and her friend, Nadine Burnett. Survivors include her son, Wesley Stickelman of North Platte; daughter, Tonya (Mitch) Fagan of North Platte; son, Patrick Stickelman of North Platte; grandchildren, Tanner Ostrander, Sarah Stickelman, Bentley Stickelman and Berklin Stickelman; step-grandchildren, Victor, Darren, Renae and Cameron Fagan; brothers, Dean (Twyla) Connelly of Brady and Don (Starlette) Connelly of Big Springs; sister, Delores (Joe) May of Brady; lifelong friends, Deb Owens and Rene Barner of Brady; and many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation. Online condolences may be shared at blasestrauser.com. We will gather at the river this spring to celebrate her life.