Delores Irene Todd

Delores Irene Todd, age 88, of Washta, passed away on Saturday, January 18, 2020 at the Good Samaritan Society of Holstein.  A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at 10:30 AM at the United Methodist Church of Washta with Pastor Barb Dinelli officiating.  Burial will be at the Holstein Cemetery of Holstein.  A visitation will be held on Friday, January 24, 2020 from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM at the Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home of Holstein.

She was born May 30, 1931 to Claude and Irene (Schuett) Kistenmacher in Holstein.  She grew up on the family farm west of Holstein.  Delores attended Country School through the 8th grade, graduating from Holstein High School in 1949.  She attended college for a short period of time in Omaha, Nebraska while working as a nanny.  After realizing the big city life wasn’t for her she returned home to the farm.  She worked as a telephone operator in Holstein until she married the love of her life.

She married Ralph William Todd on September 20, 1950.  The couple made their home on a farm south of Washta.  The couple had seven children; four sons, John, Charles, Michael and Mark and three daughters, Debra, Barbara and Lisa.

Delores enjoyed the farm life: gathering eggs, milking cows and tending to their calves.  She was very proud of her licensed egg business “Todd’s Fresh Eggs,” selling eggs to the local schools, convenient stores and many friends and neighbors.  She also enjoyed baking and decorating many different kinds of cakes.  In her spare time, she worked in her huge vegetable garden.  She was a member of the Washta United Methodist Church and very active in the UMW for many years, working at many church functions.  Above all she loved and cherished her family.  She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by six children, Deb (Bob) Templeman of Mayer, MN, Barb (Doug) Radke of Aurelia, IA, Charles (Sue) Todd of Washta, IA, Mike (Sharon) Todd of Cleghorn, IA, Lisa (Trip) Witten of Ida Grove, IA and Mark (Becky) Todd of Washta, IA; 27 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; sister, Ruth Bergmann; brothers and sisters-in-law, Clara Kistenmacher, Elvera Todd, Donna Todd, Donald Todd, Clarence (Bernice) Todd, Gail (Nancy) Todd, Frank (Carolyn) Todd and Kenneth (Janie) Todd; and many nieces and nephews.

Delores was preceded in death by her parents; parents-in-law, Otto and Lillie Todd; husband, Ralph in 1995, son, John in 2019; grandson, Skylar Todd; great-grandson, Dylan Schleef; brother, Lauren Kistenmacher; brothers and sisters-in-law, Robert Bergmann, Eugene Todd, Darrel Todd, Gladys Todd, Delores J. Todd, Eva (Robert) Dittmer, Rose (Peter) Godbersen, Agnes (Leroy) Boock.