Obituaries

Delores E. Harrison, age 91, of Eau Claire, WI, passed away surrounded by family. Born October 27, 1934, in Deadwood, South Dakota, to Herman and Clarabel Schnitger, she grew up in Belle Fourche. A lifelong educator and faithful volunteer, Delores delivered newspapers as a child, was a lifeguard and Girl Scout counselor in high school, and was voted “most athletic” by her classmates. She earned a degree in elementary education, physical education, and art from Black Hills Teachers College in Spearfish, where she sang in the choir and belonged to Kappa Pi, YWCA, and the Women’s Athletic Association. In 1953, she played trombone with the Belle Fourche Cowboy Band at Mount Rushmore honoring President Eisenhower.

Delores married Dale Harrison the weekend of her 1955 college graduation. She taught elementary school throughout the family’s many relocations—including postings in South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Shishmaref, Alaska—while supporting Dale through his training and career. She treasured teaching children to read and remained active in music, church, and community life. After settling in Eau Claire in 2005, she completed two years of study to become a Lay Minister and continued volunteering in Bible study, choir, and confirmation ministries.

Delores loved travel, correspondence, gardening, and preserving family memories through postcards, journals, photographs, and an annual Christmas letter. She traveled widely with family and friends, including trips to England, Ireland, Norway, Alaska, New York, Washington D.C., and many reunions and camping trips across North America.

She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, son Marty (d. 1980), and her husband of 64 years, Dale (d. 2019). She is survived by daughters Callie Harrison (Michael Kassow) and Marcie Harrison; grandchildren Elizabeth Dertinger (Talon Hedenland), Nicolas Dertinger (Mary Winsett), Jasper Kassow (Lucy Chan), and Hunter Kassow (Meryl Malezieux); and great-grandchildren Bishop, Shatner, Caylie, Grace, and Alice.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Smith Funeral Chapel, with a funeral service at 12:00 p.m. A committal service will follow at 2:30 p.m. at Scandinavian Cemetery in Bloomer, WI.

The family extends a heartfelt thanks to Heartland Hospice, The Classic at Hillcrest Greens, and Heatherwood Assisted Living for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, the family would request that donations be made to Feed My People. (www.fmpfoodbank.org).