Delores M. Dressen

DELORES MARIETTA DRESSEN was born on October 25, 1921 in Remsen, Iowa to Otto and Wanda (Sanny) Petersen. She lived her childhood in Lake Benton, Minnesota and her late teens in St. Paul, Minnesota attended Mechanic’s Art School in St. Paul and graduated in 1939. Delores had met a young man at the Showboat Pavilion near Lake Benton before her family moved to St. Paul and it was this dashing young man whom she decided to dance the rest of her life with. Delores was united in marriage to Daryl Dressen on January 1, 1941 in her parent’s home in St. Paul. After Daryl returned from the war the couple moved to Pipestone, Minnesota and then moved the growing family to a farm near Woodstock, Minnesota in the early 1950’s. The farm life may not have been her first choice but Delores would always say it was the perfect place to raise their children. In 1973, they sold the farm and moved to Magnolia, Minnesota.

Delores was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1961, in Pipestone, and was a wonderful example of faith for the rest of her life. Delores was known to many family and friends as a faithful preacher and teacher of the Bible. She was an intrepid Scrabble player and an energetic gardener who even claimed to enjoy weeding her gardens. The only real challenge to her gardening on the farm came from the hungry wayward animals that would stretch their necks to nibble on her pretties through the picket fence and the chickens scratching in her flower beds were known test her patience. As a child of the Depression, Delores was an industrious hard worker her whole life. Her children labeled her “frugal” with a knowing wink amongst themselves. She had a passion for classical music, as did her mother and Big Band music, especially Glen Miller, would set her feet tapping. The Strauss waltzes would simply put her in ecstasy.

On Sunday, May 31, 2020 Delores died peacefully at the Parkview Manor in Ellsworth, Minnesota at the age of 98 years, seven months and six days.

Delores will be lovingly remembered by her children; Diane (Richard) Cylkowski of Kanaranzi, Minnesota, Douglas (Bonnie) Dressen of Duluth, Minnesota, Debra (David) Koutek of Sanford, Florida, Denise Grace of Fort Myers, Florida, David (Shelley) Dressen of Kanaranzi, Dick (Marion) Dressen of Kenneth, Minnesota, Dara Smook of Luverne, Minnesota and Deidree (Thomas) Von Allmen of Kanaranzi, 20 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren. Delores was preceded in death by her husband Daryl Dressen; infant daughter, Wanda Jean; daughter, Dawn Lynell; grandson, Mark Cylkowski; two brothers, Waldon and Vern; and two sisters, Marylin and Vion.

You are warmly invited to the following:

Virtual Visitation - Friday, June 12th at 7pm
Virtual Memorial Service - Saturday, June 13th at 3pm

If you are interested in attending, please reach out to Scott Christenson:
Call or text - 507.227.5445
Email - scott@saskfamily.com