Delories Blanch Hoffer, age 84, passed away peacefully of natural causes on July 14th, 2018. Delories was surrounded and comforted by family at St. Peter’s Health in Helena, MT.
Delories was born in Brady, Montana on July 8, 1934. She was the second child, and the first daughter, of Leo and Myrtle Mumm. She was born on the family wheat farm, where she grew up milking cows, baking and cooking, caring for babies and driving machinery. She attended school in a one-room country school house and attended and graduated high school in Brady, MT. After graduation, Delories worked at Fred’s Supermarket for two years, where she made orders, ran the deli and worked the check out.
While working in Brady, Delories met the love of her life, an Air Force Man, Jack Zuidema, from Conrad at the local roller skating rink. They were married in Conrad on February 27, 1954 and lived in Soap Lake, WA and Clovis, NM while Jack was in the service. After Jack was honorably discharged, they moved to Great Falls to be closer to their parents. Together, they had four children, Debbie, Rick, Valerie and Raymond. After living in Great Falls for 10 years, Delories and Jack moved to Helena and built their own house over 1 ½ years, where Delories lived for the remainder of her life.
Delories was a stay-at-home mom until all of her children were in school and she went to work at Albertsons. She then ran an in-home daycare for seven years before going to work at Capital High School, where she worked with the food service program for the next 17 years before retiring.
Delories has had many hobbies throughout the years. When she was younger, she enjoyed sewing, macramé, ceramics, embroidery, loop rugs and pillows. When her kids were young, she would sew all of their clothes. She also enjoyed building puzzles, yard work, crossword puzzles, plays, movies and traveling. She especially enjoyed going to the Grand Street Theater. Delories was involved at the Helena Senior Center for 18 years, where she enjoyed playing bingo, having lunch, exercising, socializing, volunteering and caring for the plants.
Delories was preceded in death by her parents, Leo Mumm and Myrtle and Elwin Gossard, her sister Doris Parsons, her brothers-in-law, Walter Van Ryn and Jim Parsons, her son-in-law, Dan Smith, and her son, Raymond Zuidema.
Delories is survived by her siblings, Lenard Mumm (Irene), Louise Van Ryn, Laura (Mel) Poitra, Ted (Shirley) Mumm, Marie (Paul) Cislo and George (Darlene) Mumm, her children, Debbie Smith, Rick Zuidema and Valerie (Randy) Zeleniak, her grandchildren Rebecca (Brian) Tveit, Michael (Shanna) Zuidema, Jason Miller, Karri Zuidema and Marc Smith, and her great-grandchildren, LillyAnne, Karter and Emily Miller, Arionna and Annabelle Smith and Ethan and Caleb Tveit. She was loved by many and will be missed by her family, friends and acquaintances.
The family is especially grateful to Oncologist, Dr. Thomas Weiner, for providing her with medical care over the years and Pastor Jim Boggio, from Green Meadow Community Church, for the support provided to Delories and her family. A Graveside Memorial Service will be held at 1 pm on Friday July 20th at the Fort Harrison Veterans Cemetery. Family and friends are welcome to a gathering with refreshments immediately after the service.
Service Schedule
Graveside Service
1:00 p.m
Friday July 20, 2018
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Heroes Rd.
Helena, Montana 59601
Service Schedule
Graveside Service
1:00 p.m
Friday July 20, 2018
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Heroes Rd.
Helena, Montana 59601
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Debbie Zuidema says
We are so sorry for your loss. Grandma was a wonderful person and mother-in-law.
Karri and Debbie
Rebecca, Brian, Ethan and Caleb Tveit says
We thought of you with love today,
but that is nothing new.
We thought about you yesterday
and the days before that too.
We think of you in silence,
we often speak your name.
All we have are memories and
pictures in a frame.
Your memory is a keepsake,
with which we’ll never part.
God has you in his keeping,
We have you in our heart.
We love and miss you Grandma
Shawna Donaldson says
I had the privilege of knowing Delories from the senior center. She was a very kind lady who I always enjoyed visiting with. Her green thumb helped our plants thrive. She is missed!
Ann Nickel says
To all DeeDee’s family members. We were so lucky to have DeeDee watch over our daughter Meagen before she started school. She was like another Grandmother for our family. She was so loved and will be missed.