Delores H. Wilcox (Richter)

Delores H. Wilcox, 77 of Devils Lake, ND passed away on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks, ND.

Delores Helen Richter was born on the family farm in rural Drake, McHenry County, ND on July 8, 1942, to Nickolas G. and Magdalena “Lena” (Black) Richter. The family lived in several towns as her father worked for the railroad, including Towner and Sykeston.  Delores attended first grade in Anamoose, 2^nd grade in St. Paul, MN, 3^rd and 4^th grade in Towner, 4^th and 5^th grade in Devils Lake, returning to Drake in 1953 to finish 5^th through 8^th grade at the Lake George District #4 one-room school with 32 students from 7 different families.  After receiving high scores on her high school tests, Delores earned room and board in the nun’s living quarters and attended 9^th grade in New Rockford.  In 1957 the family settled back in Devils Lake and Delores attended 10^th grade at St. Mary’s Academy. 

Delores was united in marriage to Gerald McGath in March, 1959 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Devils Lake. Four children were born in Devils Lake while Delores worked as a waitress at the Colonial Café owned by her father.  The family moved to Wyandotte, MI in late 1964, and Denise was born in July 1965.  Delores and her children returned to Devils Lake in 1966. 

Delores worked two jobs while her children were growing up to ensure they were always fed and clothed. In 1970 she managed Nick’s Chicken Inn so her father could put his attention to other ventures he was involved in.  She worked at OK Hardware until it burned down.  She worked at the ND Drivers License Division in Devils Lake and Harvey.  She worked at JC Penny until the store closed. She worked as a barmaid for many years at the Elks Lodge and the Eagles Club, and she worked many years in the housekeeping department at the Lutheran Home.  She took business classes and did bookkeeping for businesses in town.  She was very proud to buy her own house with a large yard in 1974. 

She was a member of the town’s bowling league for more than 40 years, bowling Thursday nights with the women’s league, her team sponsored by North Central Granite. Many awards were won both individually and as a team.

On August 6, 1988 she was united in marriage to Duane Wilcox at her parents’ farm in rural Devils Lake. In September 1989 they began managing the R&L City Center Motel. In 1990 they bought the motel. 

Delores was a hard worker. She developed that ethic early on as she was a second mother and housewife to her brothers and sisters at an early age.  Time at the farm she took care of the younger children, kept house and had outside chores.  She was also one of the smartest of the group of 12, but ended up losing opportunities to further her learning by an early marriage and subsequent young children of her own to care for.  She was generous and always willing to help in any situation if she could. 

She enjoyed reading, shopping, watching Days of Our Lives, gardening, being outdoors and spending time at the Casino. She enjoyed cooking and making jams and jellies for her family.  She always had coffee and something to eat for anyone who stopped by.  She was a strong influence in her grandchildren’s and great grandchildren’s lives, having been primary babysitter to most of them and she loved attending their activities.  She had a wonderful sense of fun and always thought the best of everyone. 

She is survived by her husband; her children Gregery (Cathy) McGath and Kenneth McGath of Devils Lake, Camille (Dennis) Kerbs, Napa, ID, Steven (Tracy) McGath, Aloha, OR and Denise Westad, Maddock, ND; step children Allen (Patty) Wilcox, Littleton, CO and Gwen Boehm, Grand Forks, ND; grandchildren Michael, Larissa (Matt Young), Jordan and Preston McGath, Jason McGath, Brittany and Nicole Anderson, Aaron Waide, Samantha, Jennifer and Stephanie McGath, Mykayla and Samantha McGath, Kaleb and Kyler Westad, Chris and Matthew Wilcox, Jacob and Kaylyn Boehm and twelve great grandchildren; brothers and sisters-in-law Marvin and Clarissa, Donald and Martha, Dwayne and Avis, Nicholas and Jenny, James and Cheryl and David and Debbie Richter; sisters and brothers-in-law Dianne Johnson, Magdlen Richter, Melinda and Gerald Karaba, Dawn and Randy Appelt; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, her brother and sister-in-law Kenneth Sr. and Jackie Richter.

Mass of Christian Burial for Delores will be on Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake.

Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Monday, March 9^th from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m.  Visitation on Tuesday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass.