Delores Berger

Delores Berger 90, of Roslyn and formerly of Waubay died Friday January 31, 2014 at Strand Kjorsvig Living Center in Roslyn. Her funeral will be at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, February 8, 2014 at Ortley Free Lutheran Church in Ortley, Rev. Janet Miller will officiate. Burial will be in the spring at Lebanon Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Friday 5-7 P.M. and prior to services on Saturday at the church. Delores Friedricke Martha Gramberg was born on Tuesday, December 18, 1923 to Arthur and Hedwig Gramberg at Waubay, South Dakota. She was raised in Waubay where she received her elementary and secondary education. She was united in marriage to Arnold Berger on December 24, 1940 at her parents’ home in Waubay. After their marriage the couple settled on the Berger family homestead south of Ortley. The couple had seven children, which she instilled her strong religious beliefs and respect for others. The couple also took in seven foster kids over the years. She was a teacher’s aide for several years and in 1975 began classes at Northern State University in Aberdeen where she took four years of college in two years and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1977. After she taught for a couple small schools she decided to teach in Waubay and remained there until her retirement. After her retirement she spent many hours as librarian for the city and her church. Her husband passed away in April 1989. She moved to Webster in November 2007 and entered Strand-Kjosvig Rest Home in Roslyn in June 2012. She was a member Lebanon Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School and sang in the choir and then Ortley Free Lutheran Church where she played organ and piano. Delores also went on the road giving piano lessons in the surrounding counties. She also spent countless hours researching family history. She had a love for music, books and a passion to educate our youth, not only from classroom teachings, but life skills as well. Now she is at our Father’s House, kickin back and listening to the music with Pid, Art and Jeff. Delores passed away on Friday, January 31, 2014 at Roslyn, South Dakota at the age of 90 years, 1 month and 13 days. Survivors include her children; Dianne (Larry) Berger of Metairie, LA, Donna Tohidi of Los Angeles, CA, David (Karla) Berger of Wadena, MN, Arnie (Julie) Berger of Webster, SD, Susan Berger of Sioux Falls, SD and Donald (Pam) Berger of Newhall, IA; a daughter-in-law, Tootie Berger of Ortley, SD; twenty seven grandchildren, thirty three great grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Arnold, a son, Arthur and a grandson, Jeff.