Delores M. Long

Delores M. Long, age 94, a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother of Henderson, Nevada, passed away in her sleep on Sunday, October 19, 2025.

“Dee” was born August 23, 1931, in Rapid City, South Dakota, to Edward R. and Ellen (Pearce) Hallsted. She spent her childhood years in the Black Hills, attending grade school in Keystone, South Dakota, and graduating from Lead High School, where she met Bernard G. Long, the captain of the football team. The two married in 1950 and honeymooned in Bermuda, where “Bud” was stationed with the US Air Force. The couple had four children together and lived in multiple states throughout the western and midwestern United States, including South Dakota, Montana, Nevada, California, Ohio, Texas, Colorado, and Utah, always chasing Bud’s employment for different companies as a mining engineer.

Dee was a stay-at-home mom during all those moves, looking after her children, as well as the dozens of friends of her kids, throughout numerous locations. After retiring, Dee and Bud settled down permanently in Henderson, Nevada, starting first an underground utility construction company, “DeLong Inc.,” then a boat propeller repair shop. They divorced in 2000.

Several years after her divorce, Dee and her lifelong friend, William “Bill” Shahan, became a couple, living in Henderson. They traveled to Alaska, the Bahamas, the Scandinavian countries, Russia, Hawaii, Dee’s beloved Bermuda, and throughout the United States, visiting their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; and to Dee’s great delight, attending her 60th high school class reunion in Lead, South Dakota. Their travels ended when Bill passed away in 2021.

Dee was always a cheerful, happy person and always kind to others, except to one “red-headed, garlic-smelling” grade school bully whom she shoved over a wall in self-defense when she was about 10! Her kids would grow up hearing a line from the movie, Bambi, “If you can’t say nuthin’ nice, don’t say nuthin’ at all!” and she lived by that motto. Dee would delight strangers in the card aisle of the local stores, reading through the cards, laughing her wonderful laugh, and engaging in conversation with anyone and everyone! She was a fabulous seamstress and cook, her Brownie recipe is famous! She took great pride in keeping her various homes, more than two dozen over the years of moving, they were all magazine perfect.

Dee hated the cold and snow of some of the states where she lived, so retiring to the desert in Henderson suited her perfectly, and she took great joy in her beautiful irises, roses, and gardenias she grew there. She loved wearing high heels and beautiful, sparkly cocktail dresses and dancing the night away, often competing in Arthur Murray dance competitions after retiring to Henderson.

Dee was preceded in death by her parents, Ed and Ellen Hallsted; her older sister, Marie Weber; her former spouse, Bud Long; her best friend and soulmate, Bill Shahan; and one grandson, Joshua Long. She is survived by her children: Christy (Nick) Hoyrup, Dillon, Montana; Dee Ann (Bob) Sydnor, Apple Valley, California; Robert (DJ) Long, New Caney, Texas; and Tracy Campbell, Humble, Texas; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; several beloved nieces and a nephew; as well as her best friends, JoAnn and Silva.

A visitation for Delores will be held Thursday, October 30, 2025 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Palm Henderson Mortuary, 800 South Boulder Highway, Henderson, NV 89015. Funeral services will begin at 3:00 PM. Dee will be laid to rest privately at Palm Boulder City Mausoleum, in Boulder City, Nevada.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, Tunnel to Towers Foundation, or a charity of your choice.