Delma Harris

Delma Mary Ferguson was born on a farm near Mitchell, South Dakota on March 8, 1923 to John William and Lessie Ruth (Clapsaddle) Ferguson. She passed away on April 5, 2010, at her home north of Atlantic where she farmed with her husband, Lyle, and where they raised their three sons.

Delma moved to Iowa with her family in 1938 settling in the Buck Creek community in Pymosa Township. She graduated from Atlantic High School in 1940 and taught school in the Atlantic and Griswold areas. She attended business college and worked at Rock Island Motor Transit in Des Moines until her marriage April 22, 1945 to Lyle E. Harris in Griswold. Lyle and Delma lived in Vero Beach, FL and Watertown, NY while Lyle was in the US Army. They returned to rural Atlantic in September 1945. Lyle and Delma moved into Atlantic in 1979.

Delma's great loves in life were her home, her family and friends, and her church. She was an avid ISU Cyclone and Atlantic Trojan/Trojann fan, no matter what sport. One could always find her at a sport activity as well as the Atlantic High School music and drama events. Her family and friends describe her as a gracious lady; Webster defines a lady as a woman who is looked up to because she has good taste and pleasant manners. She loved to laugh, was a member of her neighborhood Country Women's Club, and she and Lyle spent many nights in their younger years dancing to local bands and playing pinochle with their card club. She always wore an angel on her shoulder and was a great collector of angels.

As a member of the Hospital Auxiliary, Eastern Star, the American Cancer Society, as a 4-H leader, and as a member of the Walnut Grove Credit Union Board of Directors, Delma volunteered thousands of hours to her community. She was an active member of the Buck Creek United Methodist Church in Talenteers, Merry Marrieds, the United Methodist Women, and Church Women United. For many years, she served as treasurer of the Buck Creek Church and of the District and Iowa United Methodist Women and was a lay representative to the Iowa Annual Conference and the Iowa UMW School of Christian Missions. Delma was a 25 year employee of Walnut Grove from 1963 to 1988.

She is survived by her sons and their wives- Craig and Kathy Harris, Shenandoah; Steve Harris and Cookie Perl, Leadville, Colorado; and Larry Harris and Denise O'Brien, Atlantic; grandchildren - Dr. Shannon Harris, Minneapolis; Chad Harris, Kansas City; Briana Harris Mayle (Kevin), Pittsburgh; Trevor (Emily)Harris, Atlantic; Caia Harris Shoffner (Lance), Colorado Springs; great grandchildren - Molly Harris, Caleb Harris Shoffner, Lyla Harris Mayle; brother Dale Ferguson and his wife Phyllis of Atlantic, sister-in-law Ferne Ferguson of Bloomington, Illinois, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Delma was preceded in death by her parents Will and Ruth Ferguson, husband Lyle, sister Wilma, brother Don, and a great grandchild Baby Harris.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, April 10, 2010, at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa. Visitation with family will be from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., Friday, April 9th also at Hockenberry's in Atlantic. Burial will be in the Atlantic Cemetery followed by a lunch at the United Methodist Church in Atlantic.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials go to Cass County Hospice, Buck Creek United Methodist Church or the organization of your choice.