Delores Lenore (Johnson) Broekemeier – Obit

Delores Lenore (Johnson) Broekemeier, 87, of Cass Lake passed unexpectedly away on April 11, 2022 with her loving family by her side at Sanford Medical Center in Bemidji.

A celebration of life with Delores’s family will be at Trinity Lutheran Church of Cass lake at 11:00 am on Friday, April 22, 2022 with visitation 1 hour prior to the service. Visitation will be held at Cease Funeral home in Bemidji on Thursday, April 21, 2022 5:00-7:00 pm with a time of reminiscence from 6:00-7:00 pm.

Delores was born May 18th, 1934, in Cass Lake, MN to John Martin and Ellen (Sall) Johnson. She grew up on the farm where she was the oldest of her siblings. This is where she developed her strong work ethic and tenacious spirit to always give. She held many roles from baking, caring for her siblings, milking cows, and tending to the garden. She attended country school at Farris for 8 years before going to Cass Lake where she graduated in 1952. While working at 2 local resorts and Fossum drug store. She graduated from Bemidji Teachers College.

Delores met the love of her life, James (Bunny) Broekemeier of 66 years at Cal’s Sweet Shop after he returned home from the Korean War and they were married on September 18, 1954, in Cass Lake. Together they had 4 children, sons, David Lee, twins: Jimmy Nick, Timmy Jay, and daughter Heidi Jill. The couple moved from Cass Lake to Kelly Lake and then to Crookston in 1956 where they raised their family for over 32 years. During this time she worked for Con Myrold before working at Crookston Public Schools for 23 years until retiring in 1989. During this time, she was also very active at Trinity Lutheran Church in Crookston, holding several positions, was president of the welcoming committee, the Mathien club, and active in multiple bridge groups. After retirement she and Bunny then returned to Cass Lake and lived on their lake property near the farm she grew up on outside of Cass Lake they had bought when first married.

Delores was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Cass Lake throughout her whole life. She served on boards and held multiple positions at the church. She loved to welcome new members, go to weekly craft groups, bible studies, host mission builders, and help in any way she could. She was an active part of the women’s auxiliary through the American Legion, enjoyed weekly coffee groups with friends made through exercise groups, and was a part of the local garden club. She was always active in her children’s and grandchildren’s activities and sports. She loved to be outdoors always having pristine flower gardens/beds, lawn, and lake front. She was an avid decorator, housekeeper, baker and cook. She enjoyed embroidering for family, friends, and for the church bazaar. She enjoyed her days at the lake, loved to have visitors, and taking trips with family and friends. Bunny passed away in October 2020, Delores continued to live at the lake and spent time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

She never missed an opportunity to help someone in need. She was truly full of life and had a contagious personality and laugh. She was strong, gracious, first to lend a hand and an excellent listener. She was a friend to all that she met, and those friendships carried on for life. She had a special gift to make everyone she encountered feel her love and kindness and that was easily seen by the number of close friends she had.

Delores was preceded in death by husband Bunny (James) Broekemeier. Parents: John Martin and Ellen Johnson. Parent in laws: William and Nora Broekemeier. Brother/Sister in laws: William and Arlene Broekemeier, Charles and Lois Broekemeier, Charles Devorak, Brian Isaacson

Delores is survived by children: David (Jean) Broekemeier, Jimmy (Karen) Broekemeier, Timmy Broekemeier, Heidi (Jerome) Simmons. Grandchildren: Kelsey (Sean) Broekemeier, Rainer Simmons, Molly (Seth) Hanson, Tayler (Zach) Bryant, Jessica, (Austin) Dierks, Kylie Simmons, Nicholai Broekemeier, Tifani Ellis. Great-Grandchildren: Triton Ellis, Boden Bryant, Hatton Hanson, Kinley Bryant, Otto Dierks and a set of twins due in May. Sisters and Brother: Margie Devorak, Lois (Gordy) Ova, Marianne (Isaac) Kamrud, Carol (Gary) Begeman, John (Donna) Johnson. Sister in law: Bonnie Isaacson. Many special nieces and nephews and their families. Special acknowledgement to lifetime and dear friends: Mike and Connie Miller, Jane and Daryle McCannell, Kathryn and Eric Nord. Honorary grandchildren: Hazel, Boone, Elsie, and Bo Nord.