Delores Mae Sutton

Our beloved mother, Delores Mae Didier Sutton, passed away peacefully on April 11, 2021, in her home after battling Alzheimer's for over ten years. Delores was born in White River, SD on February 3, 1931. Our mom was a fighter and always rallied to beat the many obstacles that she endured during the time she was battling the disease. She was the most amazing woman one could ever meet.

Delores was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Albert “John” Sutton, her son Robert (56) and her granddaughter, Tiffany Ann Sutton, (35) as well as her parents Nicholas Didier and Ellen Spear Didier and many siblings. Delores came from a family of ten children and though born in White River, the family eventually moved to Rapid City, which is where she met the love of her life, affectionately known as “Johnny.” She is survived by her sons Steven Sutton and his wife Michelle of Topeka, KS, Ronald Sutton and his wife Mona, of Baltimore, MD and daughter Lisa Sutton Thomas and husband Bill of San Antonio, TX. Delores is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

Delores and Johnny were married April 22, 1950 in Los Angeles, CA. With her husband as an Air Force OSI agent, their first journey as a married couple began in Alaska. They then were stationed in Houston, Japan, San Antonio, Erie, Clark AFB and then retired in San Antonio in 1972. Well at least for Delores. Johnny went onto his second and third careers and finally retiring in 1996 for good.

Delores worked in her early years while in high school as a nursing assistant and had planned on going to nursing school. But Johnny came into her life and plans changed. After marrying her love and as her children were born, Delores became a full time mom and housewife. In her early years as a mother she helped coach her oldest sons in little league and later was active as a den mother in scouts. She helped her sons achieve their highest honor in scouting of becoming an Eagle Scout. She was very active in her children's lives between school activities, church choir, girl scout leader and coaching her daughter, Lisa, when she was dancing and twirling.

Delores learned to sew in the early 70's when her daughter began needing outfits for dance and twirling and later began sewing clothes for her daughter and grand kids. Delores even took on reupholstering a couch one year, which when finished, looked like it had been done by a professional. Delores never gave up on projects she started and would see them through until they were finished. In 1990, for her last family reunion, she made matching shorts and t-shirts for all the grandchildren so everyone would know

they were her grandchildren from Texas.

Delores played an active role in her grandchildren's upbringing through taking care of them to being Godmother to three of her grandsons. She delighted in their visits and going out for lunch or dinner with her grandchildren. She adored them all and they brought much joy into her world.

Delores also always made sure that Thanksgiving and Christmas were always special for her family. Not just with gifts, but with decorating and most especially baking. After Thanksgiving, you could find her in her kitchen baking cookies, making fudge and divinity was her masterpiece. She would make a variety of cookies and freeze some so that her family would have plenty over the holidays. She also made some to give as gifts to neighbors and friends.

In her later years, Delores and John celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on April 22, 2000, with family and friends at their side. It was a surprise party hosted by their children and held at the Bright Shawl. The following year, Delores lost her husband, Johnny, after 51 years of marriage. She was strong and held on to her faith to get her through his passing. She kept up with her weekly rituals of getting her hair done and going to church on the weekends until her son, Robert, passed suddenly in 2009. With a broken heart, she did her best to carry on until dementia began to set in. In the early stages of the disease, Delores would recall happy memories of her past, but the present was difficult for her. As years passed and the disease progressed, we watched our mother, once so full of life, slowly lose her ability to speak. In the last months, Delores would sometimes just chuckle, which was a sign that something happy and funny was being thought of. Those moments will be cherished.

The family would like to thank caregivers Stacy, Malvia, Helen, Kaandra and Deandra for their love and compassion for helping to care for our mom in her last years and also Barbara, her hospice nurse and to Shineise, her hospice CNA for helping care for mom in her final months.

In lieu of flowers, we would like to request that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association in loving memory of our mother, Delores M Sutton. The love she gave to us will always be filled with treasured memories that will last the rest of our lifetime.

The family will receive friends from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at Porter Loring Mortuary North.

FUNERAL SERVICE

ST. HELENA’S CATHOLIC CHURCH

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2021

10:00 A.M.

Interment will follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.