Delores Oakland, 1926-2017

Published 1:00 am Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Funeral services for Delores A. (Laurie) Oakland of Albert Lea will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. John Holt will officiate. Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea, and one hour before the service at the church.

Delores died Monday, April 24, 2017, at St. John’s Lutheran Community. She was 91.

She was born March 21, 1926, in Freeborn, the daughter of Fred and Nina (Leschefske) Weck. She married Kenneth Oakland on Nov. 17, 1946. Throughout her life Delores worked at Munsingwear, a supper club in Fairmont, Best Western Cafe and Broadway Tailor Shop for many years.

Delores Oakland

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Delores loved sewing for others, especially her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She had a wide range of interests and talents and a huge, giving heart. She was a foster parent, loved crafts of all kinds, knitting, crocheting — making 200 baby hats for the newborns at the hospital in one year — oil painting, calligraphy, plants and flowers. She was active at First Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday school, made prayer shawls and was in Circle No. 13. She enjoyed square dance club and Crossroads 4-H in her younger years, where she and Kenneth were key leaders.

She is survived by four children, Bonnie Oakland of Owatonna, Kandis (Tim) Nelson of Glenville, Wendy (Ron) Stegenga of Abilene, Texas, and Steve Oakland of Fargo, North Dakota; grandchildren Sandra (Mark) Skalicky of Owatonna, Tina Rosacker of Owatonna, Jason Rosacker of Mankato, Michael (Tracy) Nelson of Mazeppa, Peter (Sarah) Nelson of Wells, Jillian (Ben) Bangert of Alden, Cristy Stegenga, Jenell Stegenga, Matthew Stegenga, and David (Jessica) Stegenga, all of Texas, and Amie Sue (Bob) Oldfather of Hood River, Oregon; 12 great-grandchildren, Christopher, Corey, Tyler and Benjamin Skalicky, Ariel and Colton Nelson, Jakob and Grace Nelson, Ean, Sam and Eva Bangert, and Catalina Stegenga of Texas; sisters-in-law Julie (Weck) Hoy of Georgia, Donna Oakland of Albert Lea, Marvel Oakland of St. Ansgar, Iowa, Elaine Hill of Northwood and Idella “Babe” Hinds of Austin; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; two brothers, Harlan in infancy and Gerald “Gary” Weck; and great-stepgrandson, Tyler Hoff.

Delores had a very strong, resilient spirit. She will be greatly missed by all those whose lives she touched.