Delores Maxine Schuchardt, 90, of Spearfish, SD, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother died Monday, June 6, 2016 at her home in Spearfish.

Delores (Dalorsey) was born on the family farm near Leola, South Dakota, July 11, 1925 to Reinhold and Magdalena Buechler. She found the love of her life in high school when she met Leslie Schuchardt. On July 3, 1944 they eloped to Pierre, South Dakota. They moved to Spearfish where Les worked as an air traffic controller and mechanic at the Spearfish Airport. By 1946, Les was working for the Black Hills Power and Light Company and Delores was managing the household which included son James.

Over the next six years, Delores gave birth to three more children which kept her very busy. She was a neighborhood mom arranging birthday parties, packing picnic lunches, and hosting neighborhood children in and out of the house. She also did volunteer work for the Red Cross and was active in the women's Church Circle group.

Delores loved music. Her home was filled with the sound of classical and pop music. She often sang along with music on the radio or record player. She played the viola and French horn in high school. As a child, she and her mother sang duets in church. She became director of the Children's Carol Choir at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in the 1960's and also sang in the adult choir there for many years.

Les built and operated the Maitland slopes ski and toboggan run. Delores worked in the Chalet as a cashier, chef, and knitter of hats and mittens. She saw children who had no mittens and hats or who had very wet ones. She had excellent knitting skills so she knit extra hats and mittens for children to use while tobogganing.

Delores loved cats. This love was passed on to her children. She would often sit up into the night waiting for one of her cats to return home safely. She would be rewarded with a lifeless mouse or mole laid at her feet as a gift. During the last year of her life, her cat Lulu sensed her moods and gave her rubs, kisses, cuddles, and comfort.

Delores is survived by her loving children; sons, James, Gilbert; daughters, Joy (Rick) Puthoff and Rebecca (John) Hine; grandchildren, Michael, Gregory, Nathaniel, Joshua, Stephanie, Lisa and seven great-grandchildren. Les preceded her in death in 2015.

Funeral services will be at 10 AM on Saturday, June 11, 2016 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Spearfish. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to benefit Our Savior's Lutheran Church.

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Crematory Service of Spearfish. Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com