Verna Dixie Delamarter

Verna Dixie Fisher Olson Delamarter (and that’s a story in and of itself) was born in Seattle, Washington on Jul 20, 1933. Her mom, also named Verna Dixie, met her dad there in the early 1920’s. He was Charles Fisher, who’d immigrated to America from Germany, having stowed-away aboard a ship. They set up house in nearby Renton, Washington and had two boys, Chuck and Bill prior to OUR Verna’s birth. That birth was complicated, and Verna died with a smile on her face after hearing she’d given birth to a girl – OUR Verna Dixie.

Our Verna’s dad found himself a single parent of two young boys and a brand- new baby. With little social net in the US in the depths of the depression, he had to work at least one fulltime job. Which left no time to care for an infant.

Enter Gladys Olson, a sister to the elder Verna. Gladys lived in Wenatchee, Washington, with her husband, a WWI Veteran. Gladys picked up our Verna, (her niece) at the hospital in Seattle, and brought her home to Wenatchee, where she and her husband Herman Olson, raised her. (Verna’s two older brothers were raised by their dad in Seattle.)

Gladys and Herman Olson had four other children in addition to their adopted Verna. They are Lewis, Joyce, Miriam and Carol Olson. All but Miriam are still living. In fact, our Verna passed away this past Tuesday, February 3, which was also the 90th birthday of Lewis.

Verna graduated from Wenatchee High School and attended Seattle Pacific College (now University). In the spring semester of her freshman year, her roommates dared her to ask Jack Delamarter out on a date. She did it. He accepted, and on that date they went to the home of a friend. There, he asked her if she’d like a pop. She said, “yes”. He brought it to her in a baby bottle. Those of you who knew Jack, know that he would do such a thing.

Verna evidently really liked drinking pop from a baby bottle because that was the first of many dates that led to love and then marriage just a few months later on June 20, 1952. She was 18. He was 19.

Jack and Verna lived in several towns before settling in Seattle. There, Verna worked several years as a book-keeper for Seafirst Bank. Jack worked for some years at the Bon Marche (now Macy’s) but in 1966 he felt the call to ministry.

It’s past-time for me to tell you the most important thing about Verna. And Jack. They both loved the Lord Jesus with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. They both learned about God’s love at an early age and throughout their lives returned His love with devotion and service. Verna Delamarter was a wonderful wife and mother and grandma and great-grandma and great-great grandma. But most importantly she was a wonderful child of God. That’s why she was so good at all those other roles.

While in Seattle, Verna gave birth to four smart and incredibly good looking children. In order, they are Sheryl, Keith, Kenneth, and Deanna (Dee Dee).

In 1966 the family moved to Moses Lake, Washington, where Jack pastored the Free Methodist Church until 1972. In that year, he accepted a position with the national denomination and the family moved to Minneapolis. They were there only a year before Jack returned to his first love, pastoring churches. He did that, subsequently in Wenatchee, Washington, Newberg, Oregon, and Post Falls and Riggins, Idaho. He also served as Conference Superintendent of the Free Methodist Church, with responsibilities for churches in four states and living in Denver, Colorado. With each move, Verna was an important part of Jack’s ministry, serving as gracious hostess to countless people through endless events.

Jack retired from ministry and he and Verna moved to Salem, Oregon, where both lived for the rest of their lives. Jack passed away in 2008. On Tuesday morning, February 3, Verna left behind the pains she was suffering and in an instant was transported to perfect health in a perfect body in a perfect place and reunited with her beloved Jack and God Himself in heaven.

Verna Delamarter is survived by: her daughter, Sheryl and husband Larry Roberts, her son Keith and wife Chi Sya, her son Ken and wife Victoria and her daughter Deanna. She’s also survived by 14 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and 3 great-grand children.