Deloris Hillesheim

Deloris A. (Dee) Hillesheim, age 83, of Faribault, passed away on Wednesday, April 21, 2010, from an extended illness at her daughter's home, with her family at her side.             Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Divine Mercy Catholic Church in Faribault on Friday, April 30, 2010, at 10:30 a.m., with Father Kevin Finnegan officiating. Interment will be held at Calvary Cemetery, Faribault.             Visitation will be held at Parker-Kohl Funeral Home in Faribault on Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and at the church on Friday for one hour prior to services.             The family prefers that memorials be directed to the Faribault Area Hospice, Faribault Art Center, Divine Mercy Catholic Church, or Knights of Columbus Council 889 Women's Auxiliary.             Deloris (Kaddatz) Hillesheim was born on April 19, 1927, in Cosmos, Minn., to Ferdinand and Laura (Reinke) Kaddatz. She grew up on the family farm and attended Country School District #53. Deloris graduated from Litchfield High School in 1946. Her first job as a nurse's aide in Hutchinson Hospital inspired her vocation. In 1948, Deloris graduated as an LPN from the two-year program at New Ulm Union Hospital School of Nursing. While working at Union Hospital in New Ulm, Deloris met Richard Hillesheim. They married on Aug. 27, 1949, at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Deloris and Dick moved to Rapid City, S.D., then Huron, S.D. in 1951-52. Deloris resided in Le Sueur, Minn., with daughters Ann and Linda when Dick began studies at Chicago College of Optometry. Throughout this time, Deloris continued working as an LPN until moving to Chicago in fall 1953, when daughter Susan was born in December. Dick graduated in 1955, and Dr. Richard ("Doc") Hillesheim and Deloris decided on Faribault, Minn., to set up practice and raise their family. In the 55 years she lived in Faribault, Deloris enjoyed her family, working, helping others and becoming involved. She worked at St. Lucas Hospital, Buckeye Nursing Home, Allard's Nursing Home, Pleasant Manor, and the Faribault State Hospital, from which she retired in 1989. Her children Nancy, Rick, Lisa and Jason were born in Faribault. The family joined Sacred Heart Catholic Church (now part of Divine Mercy) in 1956. Deloris was very active in the parish. She belonged to the Council of Catholic Women, served on the parish board, and held treasurer and membership co-chair positions with the Knights of Columbus. As a volunteer at the Salvation Army in 1965, Deloris saw the need to continue distribution of clothes when the facility moved, and opened the "Clothes Closet" in the church basement with three friends, operating it every Saturday until 1971. For 30 years Deloris volunteered with the Red Cross Bloodmobile. She was a Girl Scout leader, PTA officer and member, VFW Auxiliary member, and chair of voter registration during presidential elections from 1974 to 2000. Deloris also served on the board at Cardinal Pointe, her current home. Deloris joined the Faribault Art Center in 1956, and as an active member she supported the organization and continued to explore her talents, especially in drawing, painting and stained glass. Bowling with the Tuesday Coffee League until recent years was a favorite activity for Deloris, along with reading, gardening and playing cards with friends and family. She is survived by six of her seven children, (Ann, married to Dennis Skrade of Golden Valley, passed away in 2001), Linda Hillesheim (and James Murphy) of Bellevue, Wash., Susan (and David) Tschida of Inver Grove Heights, Nancy Andersen of Plymouth, and Rick Hillesheim, Lisa (and Craig) Ryan, and Jason (and Jane) Hillesheim all of Faribault; 16 grandchildren, Nic (and Angie) Skrade, Deloris Skrade, Danika and Dylan Murphy, Matt, Ted and Darcey Tschida, Travis Andersen, Jane (and Ian) Flam, Jonathan and Nathan Hillesheim, Pat, Ben and Sam Ryan, and Mary and Greta Hillesheim; four great-grandchildren, Damian and Ava Skrade, Ani Flam and Devlin Sausedo-Murphy; by her brother, George (and Dorothy) Kaddatz of Willmar, MN and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Richard, and daughter Ann.