Delores E. McPherson was a delightful woman who lived
the American dream yet also knew the hardships of life. She
was a working woman and a stay-at-home mom. She was familiar
with farm life and she struck out on her own to build a
career. She loved her kids and treated school children like
they were her own. Family was very special to her, and they
bore their sorrows together and experienced great joy in
each other’s presence. No matter what, Delores went through
life with a smile on her face.
Delores was born as America was trying to recover from
economic depression and political matters were stirring in
Europe. Citizens were inspired by Franklin Roosevelt’s
Fireside Chats and swelled with pride over Jesse Owen’s gold
medal at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. At home in rural North
Dakota, John P. and Rose (Humann) Grenz welcomed their dear
daughter Delores on July 1, 1938.
Though Delores was born in the town of Linton, her father
had a lumberyard in Hazelton, North Dakota, and they lived
on a grain farm that both of Delores’ parents worked.
Delores was the middle child of two brothers, George and
Rodney, and all three of them pitched in to do their fair
share of the chores. It was hard work, and parts of it were
unpleasant. Delores especially disliked milking the cow,
because the smell on her hands remained even after she
washed and headed off to school. The farm continued in the
Grenz name to present day, with Delores’ brother taking over
the operations and living in the family home.
Delores applied herself to her studies and graduated from
Hazelton High School in 1956 before going on to business
college. She earned her degree and ventured to Colorado when
she landed a job with an insurance company in Denver. More
adventure ensued when she agreed to a blind date with a
young man in the military. Donald McPherson was stationed in
Colorado Springs with the Army, and the two of them hit it
off well enough to go on a second date. There were many more
dates over the period of a year, and then Don brought
Delores to his home in Otsego, Michigan. Their love was
sealed in marriage on June 11, 1960 at the First
Congregational Church (formerly located on Franklin Street).
Within a few years, they were blessed with two children:
Ronald born in 1963 and Diane in 1966.
With Delores at home with the children, the family enjoyed a
fairly typical life for that day. She was a “June Cleaver”
mom who ran a tight ship, made meals from scratch, joined
the Ladies Guild at the First Congregational Church of
Otsego, and maintained a constant smile and positive
disposition. Summers meant family vacations, traveling to an
endless list of destinations. Loading up the camper, the
family headed for places like Cedar Point, Niagara Falls,
sights in states across the country and always back to
Delores’ birthplace. It was home for the whole family. Don
even said that if the winters were milder, he would move to
North Dakota, it was such a welcome place.
By the time her youngest child reached middle school,
Delores was ready to get back to work. She became a
teacher’s aide and playground supervisor at Dix Street
Elementary and Allegan Street Elementary schools. “Mrs. M”
ran a tight ship there as well. If any children became
unruly, she had them stand at the wall so they could calm
down and she could maintain order. Over the 18 years that
Delores worked for the Otsego Schools, she made many friends
and maintained some of those relationships beyond her
“school days.” Delores loved her job and it showed.
Tragedy struck the family when son Ronald died in an
automobile accident in 1999. Together they comforted one
another and drew on the strength of family. Delores and Don
took great delight in the grandchildren and made holidays
and birthdays especially fun. The two of them spent more
time together when Don was able to retire at age 59 and they
were free to enjoy life as it came, whether traveling or
staying at home. They were glad to have such meaningful
moments, in light of the struggles that developed.
Delores was on kidney dialysis since 2007, but in the
previous 10 years, she suffered from congestive heart
failure, and long before that she had a mini stroke about 20
years earlier. Through it all, she never lost her smile and,
in her final three days, Don never left her side.
Delores E. McPherson, “Mrs. M”, 69 of Otsego, passed away
Sunday, March 2, 2008. She leaves her precious family to
mourn her but also to remember the joy she was in their
lives. Little memories will bring a smile to their faces,
like when one of them forgot what he or she was going to
say, Delores would reply, “Must have been a lie.” The truth
is, Delores was a dear wife, caring mother, and loving
grandmother.
Delores is survived by her husband of 47 years, Donald; one
daughter Diane Allard, of California; two grandchildren:
Blake and Corwin Allard; two brothers and several nieces and
nephews. Learn more about Delores, view her Life Story film,
and visit with her family and friends Thursday from 4 to 7
p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, RDMG, Plainwell Chapel.
Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Friday at the First
Congregational Church of Otsego.
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