Delores Anne Welch, 90, passed away Monday, April 30, 2018 at the home she shared with her daughter in Harrisburg, SD.  A prayer service will be held at 4:00 PM on Sunday, May 6, 2018 at Wass Funeral Home in Beresford, SD.  Visitation will be held from 2:00-4:00 PM, just prior to the prayer service.

Delores Voegeli was born March 3, 1928 on the family farm NE of Beresford, SD in Lincoln County to George and Hertha (Stusse) Voegeli.  She grew up attending elementary school at Silver Lake Rural School, district 59.  She graduated from Beresford High School in 1946.  Following graduation, she attended Eastern State Normal School at Madison where she received her teaching certificate.

Delores married her classmate, Jules Welch on June 30, 1955.  They were blessed with 5 children, Marsha, Karen, Neal, Gary and Dean.  They raised their family in the Beresford area where Delores was a teacher.  She began her teaching career in rural schools in Lincoln County and Union County, then at Beresford Public School.  In 1971, she received her BS in Education from the University of South Dakota.  She retired 1993 but returned in 1994 to work at the Beresford School Title Program.

Delores was baptized as an infant at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hinton, IA.  She was a member of Zion Evangelical Church of N.E. Beresford and later became a member of Assembly of God (Gospel Tabernacle) where she received another baptism on July 27, 1980.  Delores' faith was very important to her.  As her health began to decline and attending church services became difficult, she enjoyed the TV ministries of Pastors John Hagee, Matt Hagee, Harold Salem and many others.

Delores is survived by her children, Marsha (Dan) Thompson, Centerville, SD, Karen Hatle, Harrisburg, SD, Neal (Bernice) Welch, Port Orchard, WA, Gary Welch, Harrisburg, SD and Dean Welch, Harrisburg, SD; 9 grandchildren, Stacey (Jason) Lihs, Justin (Wendy) Thompson, Matthew (Emily) Thompson, Sage Welch, Nathan (Andrea) Hatle, Kathryn Welch, Emily Welch, Amanda Welch and Mikayla Welch; 12 great-grandchildren, Madison, Morgan, Molly and Alex Lihs, Arlee, Elsey, Lillian, Alyda and Harlan Thompson, Helen Thompson, and Clayton and Kloie Ann Hatle; and many family members and dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jules, in 2004; her parents, George and Hertha; grandson, Shaun Welch; son-in-law, Don Hatle; her brothers, Kenneth and Paul Voegeli; sister-in-law, Marlys Twedt; and numerous family members.

"I am grateful for every day the Lord has given me to be with you."