DeLoris Krieger

DeLoris I. Krieger, 89, of St. Joseph, MI died on Sunday, February 22, 2009 at Whitcomb Towers. Arrangements have been entrusted with Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Funeral Home of St. Joseph, MI. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at the Pilgrim United Church of Christ, St. Joseph, MI on March 07, 2009 at 11:30 AM with Rev. Melanie Lawrence officiating. A Luncheon will follow the service. Memorial contributions may be made to Pilgrim United Church of Christ, St. Joseph, MI or to the Berrien County Cancer Service. DeLoris was born October 26, 1919 to Bernt and Minnie (Frazer) Johnson in West Union, MN. The family moved to Rochester, MN in 1925. She started taking violin lessons as a child in 1928. She played in the Rochester High School orchestra and graduated in 1937. DeLoris also attended the “School of Musical Art” Violin Department in Rochester, MN during the years 1928-1939. She joined the Rochester Symphony Orchestra while in high school and continued playing until 1939. DeLoris started working for the Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. in Rochester, MN in 1937 and transferred in 1948 to Mankato, MN, where she was promoted to “Chief Operator.” On May 27, 1950 she married Walter Krieger of Benton Harbor, MI, at the Zumbro Lutheran Church in Rochester of which she was a member. She and Walter moved to St. Joseph, MI, where she also transferred to the Michigan Bell Telephone Co. in Benton Harbor until her retirement in 1975 – after 38 years of service. DeLoris was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America; the Twin City Square Dance Club; St. Joseph Elks; the Four Star Traveling Club; a member of First Congregational Church of Benton Harbor and later became a charter member of Pilgrim United Church of Christ, St. Joseph where she also was a member of the church’s Women’s Fellowship. Walter and DeLoris enjoyed traveling both in the U.S. and overseas. They spent several winters in Florida. DeLoris also volunteered in the coffee shop at Memorial Hospital. After her husband Walter passed away in Florida in 1990, she did volunteer work at the St. Joseph Senior Center. In 1992 she had surgery at the Mayo Clinic for cancer and had her left leg amputated above the knee. After returning to St. Joseph, she continued to be active. She enjoyed being with her friends, playing cards, shopping, and driving. DeLoris is survived by her “adopted family” Peggy (Randy) Stinson, their children Christen (Steve) Hopkins of St. Joseph; Kelley (Mark) Gardner, of Cedar Springs, MI., Steve (Deana) Stinson of Troy, MI., and Christopher Stinson of Odenton,MD; and seven great-grand children. Cousins; Luella Wilson of Delray Beach, FL and Gladys Jensen of Rochester, MN. Also special Rochester MN. doctors; Dr. Michael Rock of the Mayo Clinic and Dr. Michael Gozola of the Prosthetics Laboratory. Her husband Walter preceded her in death as did her parents-Bernt and Minnie.