Of Oakdale
Passed away on February 24, 2014. Della's indomitable spirit succumbed to heart failure. Della was born in Buffalo North Dakota, the granddaughter of Norwegian immigrants, a heritage she was proud of her entire life. As she proclaimed in her fight against Parkinson's: "I'm Norwegian; I'm tough! Della attended Concordia College in Moorhead and remained a dedicated "Cobber" the rest of her life. She especially loved attending the annual Christmas Concert with college pal Helen Garnaas. It was at Concordia that two enduring loves of Della's life converged. She refined her lifelong love of music and she met Chuck Rada. She and Chuck married in 1946 and they celebrated their sixty-seventh year of marriage last year. They made Oakdale their home for over sixty years. It was a wonderful place to raise a family and for Della to use her green thumb to raise the flowers she so loved and for her to enjoy the Oakdale Garden Club of which she was a founding member. Although it was unusual for the time, Della held down two jobs for most of her life. Her first and most important job was to raise three children to successful adulthood but she also worked outside the home for many years as the office manager of Heger Company. She was also dedicated to Grace Lutheran Church—a mainstay in her life—where she remained engaged until her health failed. Della had a kindness and a natural elegance about her that were immediately evident to anyone she met. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters and her son Jim. She is survived by her sister Viola Braa, husband Chuck, daughter Rojean (Tom Darling), son Richard, daughters in law Karen Jensen and Lesley Cummings and grandson Sam—the apple of her eye. The family would like to thank all of the caregivers at the Cerenity Care Center and the Wellington for their tender and thoughtful care of Della. Visitation Friday, 5-7pm at Wulff Funeral Home, 1485 White Bear Ave., St. Paul. Funeral Service Saturday, 11am at Grace Lutheran Church, 1730 Old Hudson Road, St. Paul with visitation one hour prior. Private interment at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18