Delores Elayne Gookstetter

Delores Gookstetter, age 90, passed away with her family by her side on April 10, 2026 in Snohomish, Washington.

Born on September 9, 1935 in Missoula, Montana, Delores spent much of her youth on Bainbridge Island, where she grew up and graduated from Bainbridge High School. After high school, she began a career in the grocery retail business. It was through her work in the industry that she met Walt Gookstetter. They were married in 1962, and in 1967, they settled on a beautiful piece of property in Snohomish that would become the heart of her family life for decades to come.

Delores was a woman of incredible strength and resilience, courageously fighting two types of cancer for over 20 years. Despite these challenges, she remained a woman of deep faith and community. In the early 1970’s, she joined Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. She took immense pride in her involvement with the LWML (Lutheran Women’s Missionary League), finding great joy in their service projects and the many outings and friendships shared there.

On their Snohomish property, Delores found a unique passion for raising pygmy goats and was a dedicated gardener for many years. She took great pride in cultivating food for her family and spent countless hours preserving her harvest to provide for them throughout the year. Her house was almost always filled with the scent of fresh baking – most notably her “perfect” chocolate chip cookies and homemade apple cider, pressed from her own trees. A woman of boundless patience and grace, Delores’s true talent was her devotion to motherhood and the quiet, steady love she provided for her family.

She is survived by her children, Cynthia and Duane (and his wife Kelly); her grandchildren, Hannah(and her husband Brenden), Luke, Trent and Teaya (and Chris); and her beloved great-grandson, Easton. She also leaves behind her faithful cat, Janice and her dogs, Neva, Otis and Rocco.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Walt Gookstetter, as well as her parents and extended family members.

Service Information

Private Family Burial, Friday, May 1, 2026 at 11:00am at Cyress Lawn Memorial Park, 1615 SE Everett Mall Way, Everett, WA

Memorial Service and Reception, Friday, May 1, 2026 at 1:00pm at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 9225 212th St SE, Snohomish, WA 98296