March 27, 1934 - October 24, 2022
A funeral Mass for Delores Lallier, 88, of Algona will be 2:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, at Divine Mercy Parish - St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Algona. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today (Thursday) at Oakcrest Funeral Services of Algona.
Delores R. (Kohlhaas) Lallier was born March 27, 1934, at the family farm near St. Joseph, the only daughter of Henry and Clara (Hilbert) Kohlhaas. She attended primary school in St. Joseph and completed her high school education at St. Cecelia Academy in Algona in 1952.
She was united in marriage to the love of her life, Kenneth Lallier on April 20, 1955, at St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Algona. They celebrated 61 years of marriage before Kenny passed in Feb., 2017.
Delores worked multiple jobs in her career which included: Northwest Bell as an operator, Algona Community Schools in the lunch program, homemaker, Battani’s Shoe store and finally in the office at Garry-Roberts-Murphy-Schaaf Funeral homes, now known as Oakcrest Funeral Services, from 1985 until her retirement in 2000. She loved working with people of all ages from connecting people through her job as an operator, providing nutrition for children at school or raising her children in her Catholic faith. Her favorite paid employment was at the funeral home and gently comforting anyone who came to the funeral home while remembering their loved ones. She had a knack for making every single person feel special and a sharp eye for detail on the printed literature in their obituaries. Not many mistakes got by her. We only hope there are no typos in her write-up as she prided herself on her keen eye for details and use of the English language.
Delores was a devoted wife and mother, faithful member of St. Cecelia Catholic Church, CD of A, Funeral Choir, New Dimension, Hospital Auxiliary, and VFW Auxiliary. She was instrumental in helping set up the 24-hour perpetual adoration chapel and consistently offered her prayers there weekly for years.
She enjoyed crocheting, quilting, reading, bowling, baking, dancing, watching Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, the Minnesota Twins and loved playing cards. She also had many fun memories with her friends and her Red Hat Ladies.
Delores had an adventurous side and found that once the kids were grown she was able to take some bus trips to different parts of the United States which she thoroughly enjoyed.
By far, her favorite passion was spending time with, attending, and cheering at any event of her children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren until health prevented her from being there in person. She especially loved hearing stories how they excelled, what they were studying, where they were working, and looked forward to visits and phone calls from each of them. She was a good listener to all.
She loved playing games with all the kids and didn’t just let them win. Any victory when playing with Grandma was earned. A lot of Euchre was played in the family through the years, and it was understood that if your team did not bid trump, you were not to lead trump as the opposer because “WE don’t do that!”
Delores died gracefully at Good Samaritan Society in Algona at the age of 88 on Oct. 24. She is survived by her five children, Sharon Waller of Algona, Tim (Vicki) Lallier of Ankeny, Carla (Ed) Schmidt of Whittemore, Dean (Sue) Lallier of Algona and Mike (Ruthann) Lallier of Algona; 16 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by sisters-in law, Ethel Kohlhaas, Anita Lallier, Peg Lallier, Luella Potratz and Caryle Lallier; as well as brother-in-law, Marvin Lallier; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenny; her parents; her brothers, Ivan, Alfred and Ralph; sisters-in-law, Pat and Ruth Kohlhaas, Dolores Lesher and Noreen Wattermann; Charles Lallier in infancy; and brothers-in-law, Arnold and Richard Lallier, Kurt Wattermann and Lyle Lesher. We hope she is dancing with dad and singing with angels for eternity!
Oakcrest Funeral Services of Algona in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.oakcrestfuneralservices.com.