Deloris Hayes

DELORIS (SEMMLER) HAYES

September 24, 1932 – September 26, 2020

                Deloris (Semmler) Hayes, age of 88, a long-time resident of Akeley, MN passed away Sat, Sept 26, 2020 at her home with her family by her side under the care of St Joseph’s Area Hospice.

                Deloris was born Sept 24, 1932 in Ree Heights, SD to Gottlieb Edward and Christina (Ruff) Semmler.  She moved to Minnesota with her family in 1932 and settled in the White Oak Township area where they farmed. She attended the White Oak Country School.  In the early 1940s, the family moved to Akeley where they ran the Semmler Dairy. Deloris finished her schooling at the end of 8^th grade to help run the milk route and various farm chores.   

                Deloris was united in marriage to James LeRoy Hayes on Jan 27, 1951 in St John’s Lutheran Church, Akeley MN. They were blessed with 5 children:  Joan, Jimmy, Lawrence, Kathy, and Theresa.  They raised their family 3 miles outside of Akeley on the farm.

                Deloris is survived by her 5 children: Joan Houchin, Jimmy (Patricia) Hayes, Lawrence (DeeAnn) Hayes, Kathy (Ray) Sauer, and Theresa (Ron) Wells; 13 grandchildren: Heidi Hilzendeger, Wendi Hartig, Herbie (Christina) Hensel, Dwayne Hayes, James Hayes, Laura Hayes, Joseph (Diana) Sauer, Justin Sauer, Jonathan (Megan) Sauer, Erin (Ryan) Haefele, Richard Cutter, J Casey (Jessica) Cutter, and Melissa Wells; 19 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; 2 sisters-in-law; and several nieces and nephews.                 She was preceded in death by her husband, James; parents, Gottlieb Edward & Christina (Ruff) Semmler; 6 brothers: Waldemar, Ewald, Alfred, Karl, Lawrence, and Alvin; 1 sister, Laura Clark; step-father Carl Hart; step-siblings:  Louis, Jeanie, and Caroline and their spouses; several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law; and several nieces and nephews.

                Visitation will be held from 5-7 PM, Thursday, October 1, 2020 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Akeley, MN.  Memorial services will be held 11 AM Friday, October 2, 2020 at St. John’s Lutheran Church with visitation beginning one hour prior to the services.  Reverend Harvey Kietzman will officiate.

                A private inurnment will be later at the Akeley Cemetery.