The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

Age 95, of Kalispell, MT, formerly Chinook, MT, peacefully went to be with Jesus, her Lord and Savior, on April 4, 2023 at her home at Buffalo Hill Terrace. Deloris Willard was born on November 26, 1927, in Rolette County, North Dakota to Harold and Palma (Tweet) Willard. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. Her parents farmed near Rolette, ND until the depression when they moved to Lanton, Missouri. Around 1937 they returned to North Dakota and settled in Rugby. During high school Deloris contracted tuberculosis. She spent nine months in recovery at San Haven Sanatorium in Dunseith, ND. She graduated from Rugby High School in 1947. While traveling by train she met Lawrence Hofeldt, a rancher from Montana. They married in 1948 and raised six children in the Bears Paw Mountains near Chinook, MT. Deloris moved to Kalispell with son Greg in about 1975 to pursue life on her own. She worked at a women's clothing store, was an active member at Bethlehem Lutheran Church and enjoyed traveling all over the US with her sister, Helen and to Norway and Germany with her children. Among her many skills were gardening, sewing, needlework and various crafts. She enjoyed swimming exercise classes at the Summit. In her later years she became a master jigsaw puzzle maker. She cherished visits with the many family members saying with pride, "See what I started."

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by former husband Lawrence, sister Helen Belland, brother Donald ("Sonny"), son Gregory, grandson Noah and son-in-law Don Gerten. She will be missed by children, Barbara Gerten (MN), Pamela (Dale) Boespflug, Bruce (Patricia), Dwight (Carol) (TX) and Carolyn (Stephen) Babcock, special friend Rito Cervantes, nineteen grandchildren Candace, Matthew, Sarah, Abigail, Elizabeth, Jillian, Jeffrey, Jennifer, Christy, TaraBeth, Timothy, Amber, Natalie, Nathan, Joshua, Ejli, Katherine, Amanda, Emily and thirty-six great grandchildren.

There will be a Visitation on Friday, April 14, 6-7:00 PM at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home in Kalispell. The Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, April 15, at 11:00 AM at Buffalo Hill Terrace Chapel, 40 Claremont Street, Kalispell; followed immediately by a luncheon. Burial will take place at 1:30 PM at Conrad Memorial Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the care of Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home.