DeLores (Gag) Gieseke was born to Roman and Eleanor (Matties) Gag on March 14, 1931, in Loretta Hospital in New Ulm, MN, the oldest of six children.  She attended Lincoln Elementary, Holy Trinity Catholic School and graduated from New Ulm High School in the spring of 1949.  DeLores learned how to read before she attended kindergarten.  Her dad took her to the library and the librarian told her she was the youngest child at the time to have a library card in the city of New Ulm.

DeLores loved to ice skate and dance.  Her parents told her she had to be on the A honor roll or she couldn't go skating.  Her favorite subjects in school were spelling and reading.  After school and during the summer she worked at the bakery, ice cream store and the egg drying plant.

When she was 16 years old, DeLores met Gerald Gieseke at a baseball game and they began dating.  They were united in marriage two years later on August 31, 1949, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in New Ulm.  Their first child was born in 1950 and a year later they moved to Bejou, MN, to a farm.  Several years later, Gerald and DeLores moved to Mahnomen where Gerald worked as a machinist. They were blessed with six children. Gerald was hospitalized often for a back injury sustained while in the service in Japan. DeLores was alone many of those times, but kept busy with gardening, canning, baking and keeping her house spotless.  She was very active as P.T.A. President, officer in NCSF, Fraternal organization, American Legion and VFW Auxiliaries and very involved in her faith community.  DeLores was a great storyteller and joker.  She also loved to talk and socialize.

Gerald and Delores spent 30 plus years in South Texas, enjoying the warm weather.  They loved to play cards, dominoes and pegs.  They prayed the Rosary daily, attended daily Mass then enjoyed breakfast out.  Gerald and DeLores followed their grandchildren's accomplishments and sporting events and were huge sports enthusiasts.  They also attended many dances and conventions over the years.

After Gerald died in 2009, DeLores remained in their apartment until she relocated to Valley View Apartments, then the Assisted Living in Mahnomen and for the past year and a half she has resided at the Mahnomen Health Center Nursing Home.  She was under the care of hospice for the last year, and she passed peacefully on Feb 7, 2024, at the age of 92.

DeLores is survived by six children: Bonnie (Duane) Neumann of Naytahwaush, MN, Paula (Tom) Herme of Perham, MN, Gregg of Mahnomen, MN, Lori (Bruce) Anderson of Kuna, ID, Jane (Mike) Keller of West Fargo, ND, and Kevin also of Mahnomen; 14 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren; one brother, LeRoy (Louise) Gag of Prairie du Sac, WI; two sisters, Jolene Johnson of Anaheim, CA and Diane Ring of Altascadero, CA; two brothers-in-law, James and Vernon and three sisters-in-law: Marie, Myrtle, and Evelyn; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald; grandson, CW4 Officer Jesse O. Anderson; a brother and sister-in-law, Stan (June) Gag); sister, Ruth Crayton, and many brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law, and nieces and nephews.

DeLores donated her body to the University of North Dakota School of Medicine in Grand Forks, ND.  A Memorial Mass will take place on Friday, April 26, 2024 at 2 pm at St. Michael's Catholic Church.

Memorials are preferred to St. Michael's School Faith, Family and Future Fund or Hospice of the Red River Valley.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, April 26, 2024, at 2 pm at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Mahnomen.

God bless the memory of DeLores Gieseke.