Dolores Nordquist

Dolores Nordquist, age 93, of Milbank, SD, died at Milbank Area Hospital – Avera Health on Monday, March 6, 2023.  She passed away peacefully with family at her side.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, March 17, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Milbank. Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 16, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the church and will continue one hour prior to the funeral Mass. A rosary service will start at 7:00 p.m. Father Gary DeRouchey will celebrate the Mass, and burial will be at St. Lawrence Catholic Cemetery.

Dolores Ruth Nordquist was born on September 25, 1929, in Altamont, SD, to Chris and Bessie (Powers) Toutges, the youngest of seven children.  She attended country school and high school in Clear Lake.  She boarded in town in order to attend school and was a lifelong learner.

Dolores was married to Arnold Nordquist on January 1, 1947, in Lac Qui Parle County.  They were blessed with ten children.

While raising her ten children, she worked as a cook at St. Williams’s Hospital and St. William’s Nursing Home.  She was also a nursing aide at St. William’s.  Dolores and Arnold owned the Montgomery Ward store on Main Street, Milbank, for several years.  Later she worked as a cook at Thunderstik Lodge in Chamberlain, SD.  After 22 years as Grant County Dispatcher, she retired in January 1999.  On the side, she purchased several rental properties and taught herself how to repair and maintain them.  She finally retired as a landlady in November 2022.

Dolores enjoyed her lifelong hobbies of sewing, gardening, canning, quilting, crocheting, baking, and any minute spent with her family.  She was known throughout the community for her dill pickles and provided them to St. Lawrence for funerals.

When her health no longer allowed her to attend daily Mass, she remained active on the prayer chain.

She was a member of many community organizations including VFW Auxiliary, Community Thrift Store, Catholic Daughters, Quilt Guild, and was a blood donor for American Red Cross.

Dolores is survived by her children: Diane (Rick) Englund of Hopkins, MN; Jo Anne (Tom) Stanage of Yankton, SD; Colette Brust of Big Stone City, SD, and Gig Harbor, WA; Christie (Mike) Callaghan of Yankton, SD; Tim Nordquist of Nininger, MN; Theresa Helseth of Milbank, SD; Barb (Bob) Wilber of Sioux Falls, SD; and Todd (Teri) Nordquist of Tampa, FL; daughter-in-law, Heather Nordquist of Albuquerque, NM; and son-in-law, Chris VanDeVoort of Devils Lake, ND; grandchildren: Erick Englund, Elizabeth (Josh) Rembold, Emily Becker, Charles (Pam) Brust, Matthew (Sarah) Brust, Melissah Miller, Michael Pellet Jr, Katie (Carlo) Novak, Trish (Caleb) Callaghan, Jordan (Charlie) Callaghan, Christopher (Cassie) Nordquist, Angela (Jeremy) Levin, Andrew Nordquist, Danny VandeVoort, Jordan VandeVoort, Jackie (Dana) Christensen, Amy (Joe) Eckert, Holli (Menzie) Henderson, Zachary Wilber, and Erin Edison.  She is also survived by 23 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Dolores was preceded in death by her husband, Arnold; son, Terry Nordquist; daughter, Julie VanDeVoort; sons-in-law: Charles Brust, and Michael Pellet; daughter-in-law, Sharon Nordquist; granddaughter, Sarah Brooke Nordquist; siblings: Marie (Bill) Petersen, Ed Toutges, Howard (Irene) Toutges, Agnes (Carl) Wiese, Arnold (Vina) Toutges, and Bob Toutges.