Delores Loretta 'Dee' Dreke

Delores Loretta Gangstee was born January 28, 1926 near Elmore, MN, on the family farm, to parents Eric Gangstee and Alice (O'Toole) Gangstee. Following Dee's graduation from Lake Crystal High School, she worked at the Lake Crystal newspaper. After moving to St. James, she worked at the St. James Plaindealer as the linotypist. She worked alongside her husband for many years at the Dreke's Photo Shop and Music service. Some of her duties were retouching picture portraits and selling vehicle license plates. Dee enjoyed sewing for her family, reading and she was a wonderful chef. She and Warren enjoyed family trips traveling with their camping trailer throughout the United States. Dee was very involved with her church family, having been a Sunday school teacher and Treasurer of the Ladies Aid. In their younger years, Dee and Warren would go square dancing. She was active in sewing club, extention club and her favorite creative outlet was water color painting. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. Dee spent her final years at Pleasant View Good Samaritan Society, and she really did appreciate and enjoy the company of the staff and the residents. Her family is thankful for all the wonderful care she received. She is survived by her children, step-son James (Carol) Dreke of Chaska, MN, Celeste (Sam) Clipperton of St. James, Delwin (Linda) Dreke of Oak Ridge, TN, Nyles (Nancy) Dreke of Cannon Falls, MN, a sister, Bernette Hollerich of Mankato, MN, grandchildren, Alan (Angela) Clipperton, Ann Clipperton, Ryan (Linda) Dreke, Sara (Tom) Dreke Eyre, Daniel Dreke, great-grandchildren, Lydia, Ezra, Jonah, Elizabeth, Matthew, Natalie, Theo, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She is preceded in death by her husband Warren, parents Eric & Alice Gangstee and step-father Walter Cain. Visitation 1 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Thursday, February 25, 2016 Sturm Funeral Home, St. James Chapel 906 - 10th Ave. S. St. James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Visitation 2 9:30 am - 10:30 am Friday, February 26, 2016 St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church, St. James 315 9th Street S. Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Service Information 10:30 am Friday, February 26, 2016 St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church, St. James 315 9th Street S. Saint James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Interment Information Mt. Hope Cemetery, St. James S. CR 27 St. James, Minnesota, United States 56081 Fellowship Lunch and fellowship will be in the church fellowship hall following burial.