Dolores M. Saari

Dolores Mae Saari passed away peacefully on Friday, May 8, 2026, during a reading of Psalm 23. She was 97 years old. Dolores led a vibrant and fulfilling life for most all of those, with her later years in retirement, then nursing facilities. She had a wonderful sense of humor and a hearty laugh, a warm spirit and temperament. She was an avid and creative seamstress with hobbies of exquisite doll making and interior decorating. Dolores loved to work on her art, sing hymns and listen to scripture and prayer.

Born in Spencer, Iowa on February 6, 1929, Dolores was one of eleven siblings born to Roy and Jeanette Sudenga. She spent her childhood and school years near Woodstock, Minnesota.

Dolores married Robert Nienkerk in 1946 after which they settled on a farm outside Woodstock. There they raised three sons, Dennis, Larry, and Steven. She was a force to be reckoned with both as a mother and farm wife on a working farm. With boundless energy she cared for her children, maintained the household and cared for many of the farm animals, including her large flock of chickens, from which she obtained her “egg money”. She enjoyed sewing clothes for her sons, always wanting them to look snappy from her latest patterns.

In 1964, Dolores moved to St. Louis Park, Minnesota, along with her two youngest sons. She then started her career as a buyer merchandiser and sales person at Dayton’s department store. in 1967 she met and married Toivo Saari. They subsequently moved to a house in Superior Wisconsin and enjoyed a summer cabin on Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin.

Two years later, Dolores and “Toik” moved to Boca Raton, Florida, where Dolores again worked in merchandising and sales at local ladies boutiques.

Dolores relocated to Plano,Texas, in 1997 to live near her son, Dennis. In 2007 she moved into a retirement facility in Plano, where she served as Activities Director, using to great advantage her artistic and craft skills. In 2014 she moved from Plano to a nursing facility in Richland Hills, Texas and resided there until her passing. Though her memory functions continued to degrade, Dolores never lost her sense of humor and maintained many fellow friends.

Dolores is survived by her brother, Daryl Sudenga, of Yakima, Washington, three sons; Dennis of Plano, Texas, Larry of Carmel, California, Steve of Naples, Florida, six grandchildren; Todd, Laura, Sarah, Emma, Michael, Chelsea, and three great grandchildren; Joseph, Samuel, Michael, and Colette.

She leaves us with her self proclaimed epitaph, “In God’s Care”

A visitation will be held at Ted Dickey Funeral Home, 2128 18th Street, Plano, TX 75074, US, on July 2, 2026, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Dolores lived in Plano, Texas.