Obituaries
Delores Ann (Primus) Orman was born March 23, 1943 to Willis and Letha (Covington) Primus of Vinton, Iowa.
She and her older brother, Donald, grew up under the Iowa sunshine where she completed her elementary and high school classes.
Delores was very active in the Disciples of Christ Church and baptized as a teenager. She served her community in various roles including riding her bicycle on her paper route, as a hospital aide, certified swim instructor, lifeguard and elected county 4-H president. During her teen years, she worked at the town drugstore and her parents’ appliance and hardware store. Upon graduating from high school in 1961, Delores attended Iowa State
University degree In her in desire Home in Ames to Economics serve, where she she and enrolled earned Interior in a the Bachelor Design Kennedy-era in of 1965. Arts Peace Corps program and served in Niger, Africa, during which time she met her husband, Paul, who also served in the same audio/visual project. They were married in Niamey, Niger, at the Baptist Mission Church on June 26, 1966. After two years of service, they returned to the United States and the couple made their home in Downey, California where she resumed classes to attain her teaching certificate. In 1969, they ventured north to Alaska when Delores accepted an Art and Home Economics position at William E. Beltz Regional High School in Nome. She loved teaching and watching her students use their artistic talents in creative ways and enjoyed accompanying them on trips with Future Homemakers of America
In the community, she was active in United Methodist Homemakers Women, helped organize the Helen Fagerstrom Bazaar, thrift shop style shows, played the piano at church, taught classes for the Community Schools program and was a 4-H and Girl Scout leader. She baked wedding cakes and assisted Paul with the homes he built on 5th Avenue. Delores and Paul lived in Nome for 18 years and had all three of their children during that time. In 1971, they welcomed their firstborn, Matthew Floyd followed by daughter, Angela Letha, in 1976. Matthew went to his heavenly home with his Lord and Savior in 1981 due to a heart condition at nine years of age. Their youngest daughter, Margaret Ann, joined the family in 1982.
In 1985, Delores and Paul decided to move their family from Nome and establish a farm in Hayes County, NE near where Paul grew up. While in Nebraska, she committed her time to her family, church and community. She was actively involved as a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Lutheran Women's Missionary League, 4-H volunteer and judge, developed and tended her flower and vegetable gardens, sharing the produce and blooms with neighbors and friends, and joyfully spent time with her children and grandchildren whenever possible. During these years, she also made regular and
frequent trips back to Nome to visit and help her daughter
Angela with the Iditarod Fine Art Show.
Together, Paul and Delores shared many memorable
traveling adventures with their family over the span of
five continents and all 50 states. She lived her life abundantly, loved her husband, family and friends well, and shared her love for and trust in Jesus confidently with many whom she met throughout her lifetime.
Delores’ health condition recently advanced from MDS to Acute Myleoid Leukemia. The Lord helped her gracefully cope with its challenges and she continued to live life fully and joyfully for many years. Delores finished her earthly race well and spent her last days in her home surrounded and attended by her family. Jesus took her soul to be eternally with him in her heavenly home on August 7, 2021, at the age of 78. She will be remembered for her radiant smile, cheerful attitude and faith and will be greatly missed by her family, friends, church, and community this side of Heaven.
Delores is survived by her husband, Paul, of 55 years, of Hayes County, Nebraska, two daughters, Angela (Peter) Hansen of Nome, Alaska, and Margaret (Brent) Sankey of Hayes County, Nebraska, seven grandchildren (Gareth, Alina, Clara, Luke, Agneshka, Konstantine and Nicholas), and her brother Don (Marcia) Primus of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
She was preceded in death by her precious son Matthew and her beloved parents, Willis and Letha Primus.
A celebration of life service was held at St. John Lutheran Church in Curtis, Nebraska, Thursday, August 12. Cards of sympathy can be sent to Paul Orman 37331 Rd. 741 Maywood, NE 69038 or Angela Hansen PO Box 1564 Nome, AK 99762.
Take comfort in Jesus' words, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me. In my father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. “John 14:1-2