Delores B. Gibson

Delores B. Gibson, age 84, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at the Village of Harmony Hill in Watertown.  Funeral Mass will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at Immaculate Conception Church in Watertown, SD.  Father Richard Baumberger will be the celebrant.  Music will be provided by Julie Kjenstad as vocalist and Jane Rokusek as organist. The funeral mass will be livestreamed via our website.

Visitation will be at Immaculate Conception Church on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. with a rosary service at 7:00 p.m.

Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Watertown. Active/Honorary pallbearers will be Delores grandsons Lincoln Swenson, Justin Templeton and Collin Godfrey; and nephews: Larry and LeAllen Endres, Leon Spartz, Scott Endres, Mike and Matt Havlik and Bob Gibson.

Delores was born on December 6, 1940, to John and Laurine Endres in Watertown. She attended Immaculate Conception School and later Watertown High School graduating in 1958. She married Jack Gibson on June 22, 1959, at Immaculate Conception parish in Watertown. The couple resided on a farm on the outskirts of Goodwin, SD, where they raised livestock and farmed. Jack passed away on February 15, 1988.

Delores stayed at home and raised their 3 children while helping with many outside jobs on the farm/livestock with her husband. She was a huge supporter of their children as they were involved in many activities while they were in school. She participated in the Clear Lake Booster club for years finding many fun ways to support the athletes. Delores loved to travel. She and Jack took several trips with family and friends while Jack was still alive. Later years, after Jack passed, Delores continued to do more traveling with friends on several bus tours and visiting other countries as well. She had a great group of friends who were always willing to hop in a car and go. We always laughed and said if a car was going someplace, Mom was the first one in it.

Grandma Dee, as she was known to her grandkids/great grandkids were her pride and joy. They looked forward to spending as much time with her as she did them, literally letting them run the show. Grandma Dee was also known for her famous Chocolate Chip Cookies. All the kids in the school system knew she would be sending cookies on the bus for road trips to away games. She absolutely adored her great grandchildren and loved their little visits, talking about them for hours. When the grandchildren started participating in school activities, she was their biggest cheerleader and referee. Delores tried to attend every event they were in, even through college. Delores loved to golf in the summer. She really enjoyed going to the little club tournaments around the area with her golfing buddies, especially The Tuna Can Open which took place in a pasture with her cherished friends, who she shared many laughs with.

She bowled in the winter in the Watertown ladies bowling league. Delores was a member of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Kranzburg for many years. She sang in the choir, taught religious education for years and was involved with the Altar Society. Delores helped decorate the church at Christmas for many years, something she thoroughly enjoyed. When she moved to Watertown, she became a member of Immaculate Conception Parish again where she was a member of the Catholic Daughters and Serra Club.  Delores served on the Deuel County Election board for years. She was a member of the Clear Lake Red Hat Society. 

She is survived by her children, two sons: Greg (Joan) Gibson and Mike (Tara) Gibson; daughter LeAnn (Todd) Swenson; 6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren, Pylar (Collin) Godfrey, Mylan Gibson, Taylor (Chelsie) Gibson (Jack and Boyd), Tiara Gibson, Jayda (Justin) Templeton, (Ellis), Lincoln (Hannah) Swenson (Jack and Sutton); sister, Jeanette (Joe) Spartz; sisters-in-law, Janice Endres, Jeanie Endres, Marianne Havlik Rasmussen, Jo (Pat) Gibson, Carolyn (Tom) Gibson.

Delores is preceded in death by her husband Jack, granddaughter Symone (Greg and Joan); parents John and Laurine Endres; brothers Ralph, John, and Rollin Endres; sisters Delphine Hanten and Lois Booth; Jack’s parents, Albert and Mary Gibson; and brothers-in-law Pat Gibson, Tom Gibson, Larry Rasmussen, Joe Spartz, and Cliff Hanten.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown and Hayti

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