Fair / 52° F
Delaine Ann Dorlon, 83, of Fergus Falls
Published 11:08am Thursday, January 5, 2012 Updated 1:09pm Thursday, January 5, 2012Delaine Dorlon, died Monday, Jan. 2, 2012, at PioneerCare Center in Fergus Falls.
She was born Aug. 7, 1928, in Fergus Falls, the daughter of Leo and Lillie (Friberg) Ritchey. Baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls, she graduated from Fergus Falls High School.
On Jan. 29, 1948, she married James Hartness. The couple made their home in Fergus Falls until 1965, when the family moved to Frazee.
In 1975 she moved back to Fergus Falls. In the years from 1983 through 2007, Dee resided in Silver City, N.M., Grass Valley, Calif., and Prescott, Ariz.
In 2007, she returned to Fergus Falls where she currently resided.
Delaine was a loving mother and homemaker. She also worked as a librarian assistant at Frazee High School and also at the Junior College in Fergus Falls.
Her other passion was her work with the Fergus Falls YMCA Senior Citizen Exercise Program and the Fergus Falls Project New Hope.
Her passion for these programs followed her to Silver City, N.M., where she started up the first Senior Citizens Exercise Program. She worked at various nursing homes in Grass Valley, Calif., where she helped with resident canine therapy and later with Companion Group Homes in Arizona.
Dee enjoyed bowling, dancing, music, cards and games. She was very artistic and loved to paint and draw. She was very proud of her Christmas Jewelry Tree which she crafted along with her sisters.
Delaine loved traveling to various places including the Bahamas, Alaska and Hawaii. Dee had a great spirit for life. She shared her happiness and zest for living with everyone around her.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Leo and Lillie; husbands, James Hartness and Joseph Dorlon; two brothers, Mayron Ritchey and Darwin Ritchey, who died in Word War II; three sisters, Myrna Hanson, Darlene Johnson and Dolores Hanson.
She leaves behind two sons, Lyn (Petra) Hartness of Oakdale, LeMoyne (BermaJo) Hartness of Baxter; two daughters, Dawn (Keith) Johnson of Prescott Valley, Ariz., and Julie Hartness of Fergus Falls; six grandchildren, Christine, Nicole and Kelly (Tim) Hartness, Kerry (Adam) Hiltner, Sean and Dylan Hartness; two great-grandchildren, Thora and Otto Hiltner; Ritchey cousins and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins; and a host of friends.
Please feel free to wear your favorite scarf in memory of Dee.
Visitation: One hour prior to the service at the chapel
Service: 1 p.m. Saturday, at PioneerCare Chapel, Fergus Falls
Clergy: Chaplain Harry Olson
Burial: Oak Grove Cemetery, Fergus Falls
Funeral Home: Faith and Hope Funeral Home, Fergus Falls
Condolences may be sent online at faithhopefh.com
