Delores was born and lived the first two years of her life in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Her family emigrated from Germany in the 1860’s and sod busted their North Dakota farmland. Delores family still owns this farmland outside of Alsen, ND. In 1927, her parents moved to Seattle. One highlight of the car trip west was a stay at a cabin in Yellowstone National Park. Delores scared everyone by eating a sample from the rat poison on the floor of the cabin. Thankfully, she had no ill effects from this.
As the oldest child of Martin and Edna, she was soon joined by her twin sister and brother, Marvel June and Marlyn at their new home in Seattle. Marvel June and Marlyn preceded Delores on their entry to Heaven. Delores attended Bryant Grade School and was a proud graduate of the 1943 class from Roosevelt High School. She never missed one day of high school and has a perfect attendance certificate from RHS. After high school graduation, Delores went to work for Pacific Northwest Bell Telephone as a secretary where she put the skills she learned in school to good use.
Delores met a UW college student and US Army veteran of WWII Victor Cohrs when he started attending Messiah Lutheran Church in Seattle where Delores and the Kastner family attended. Vic’s father was a Lutheran minister in Chinook Montana where Vic grew up. After dating for several years, Vic and Delores were married on June 29, 1951. The wedding ceremony will be remembered for being a Seattle day over 100 degrees (No AC at Messiah in those days) and the candles melted. They had to get emergency replacements from the florist just in time for the ceremony to commence. Delores still had her wedding dress after all these years and rice is still imbedded in the lace work. This was the first wedding in the new Messiah church after formation of the congregation in 1947.
Delores and Vic had three sons. Vern, Lyle and Lee. These boys were the pride of their lives. All three boys earned the Eagle Scout award. Each son has gone on to have a successful life. Delores and Vic were also blessed with five wonderful grandchildren Michael (Briannan), Natalie (Martin), Rebecca (Tyler), Joshua (Shannon) and Elizabeth Cohrs. They also have a great grandson, Arthur Cohrs, who Delores was able to meet and love. Vic and Delores loved their family more than they will ever know. Daughter in laws Carolynn (Lyle) and Jill (Lee) were much loved. Vic passed away in 2012 and he is missed by all of his family. Gma and Gpa will be remembered always.
When Delores and Vic’s sons all graduated from high school and left for college, Delores decided she wanted to go back to work. She became the executive secretary in 1978 at Vic’s Insurance Center working with Vic. She continued in that role up until 2018 when she finally retired after working for her son Vern who purchased Vic’s Insurance from Vic in 1998. Part of the success of Vic’s Insurance was due to Delores being a friendly voice on the phone to all clients.
Delores participated in many activities during her lifetime. Delores was a charter member of Messiah Lutheran Church starting in 1947. She was president of the Ladies Guild and participated in the Ladies Guild for much of her life. She played the violin from age 9 and played in the Messiah music ensemble until she was 90 before arthritic fingers forced her to retire. In her younger days before children, she sang in the Oriana Chorus, a Seattle vocal group. As her children got older, Delores and Vic became involved with Cub Scouts. Delores was a den mother for Pack 177 sponsored by Messiah Lutheran Church for all three of her sons. After the boys graduated to Boy Scouts and Troop 177 with Vic as the Scoutmaster, Delores got very involved with Scouting at the District and Chief Seattle Council level. She was president of the Polaris District Woman’s Auxiliary. Delores participated on the Council advisory board up until 2019. Delores learned to drive in the early 60’s so she could transport her boys to all the scouting, little league, other sports and music lessons she involved them in. Her Dad gave Delores and Vic an old 1949 Buick she drove for years. Her favorite gas station was a Richfield on 115th and Lake City Way. The proprieter, Smitty, took good care of her. Many of the family dishes and glasses came from Smitty with fillup promotions. Little boys could be hard on plates and glasses!!!!
Delores Cohrs was a wonderful daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and one of the best friends a person could ever have. She will be missed. But the memory of Delores will live on with all of us whose life she touched. Don’t grieve about her passing. Instead, celebrate her entry into Heaven to join her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ along with Vic, her parents and her extended family.
Memorials can be made to Chief Seattle Council – Boy Scouts of America or Messiah Lutheran Church – Seattle, WA
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