Funeral services for Delores E. Kroft, age 70 of Hettinger will be held at 10:30am Wednesday, July 11, at the Assembly Of God Church in Hettinger. Pastors Steve Thomas and Brian McDaniel will officiate with burial in the Lodgepole Cemetery.


Special music will be provided by Pat Peterson, organist and Todd Buer, soloist.


Serving as casketbearers are Pete and Warren Randall, Tyler Chapman, Dalen and Doug Kroft, Jason Delo, Freddie Rios, and Denny Brabazon. All family and friends are considered honorary bearers.


A memorial has been established.


Delores Eileen Kroft (Beanie) ascended to Heaven on July 8, 2007, after a long illness and hospitalization in the West River Regional Medical Center. She was born October 8, 1936, in the Springer Hospital in Hettinger, North Dakota to Raymond R. and Eileen B. (Stalder) Brabazon. She grew to adulthood on the family farm southwest of Lodgepole, South Dakota. Beanie rode her pony, Beauty, two and one half miles to the Lodgepole School starting at the age of five. Beauty was a high spirited pony and ran away with her many times. Beanie became an expert rider and could stand up on Beauty's back and ride at a full gallop. During the summer Beanie and her pony would herd sheep and hogs. She finished her elementary school years at the Parker School riding Beauty every day through the sixth grade. Beanie graduated from the Hettinger High School in 1954 and attended Black Hills Teachers College in Spearfish the summer following graduation and started her teaching career in the fall. She attended college during the summers and taught school during the winters for three years. She taught the Beeler and Slick Creek schools in South Dakota and rural schools outside of Hettinger and Tioga in North Dakota. Beanie later worked as a clerk for the Hettinger Sales Barn and as a bookkeeper for the American Legion.


Beanie married Duane Kroft on June 18, 1956. They made their home in Hettinger, Tioga, and Rapid City. In 1973 they moved to the Kroft family farm north of Lodgepole, South Dakota. To this union was born a daughter, Deborah Eileen and a son Darlen Ray. She was a special grandmother to her three grandchildren, Nicole Renee Kroft, Joseph Adam Kroft and Faith Eileen Kile.


Beanie was a good cook and baker and a meticulous homemaker and hostess. She was an excellent seamstress and made many of her children's clothes when they were young. She paid great attention to all details, no matter how small. Music was also a part of Beanie's life. She learned to play the accordian at a young age and played for many years. She also played the piano. Beanie had a lot of spunk and spirit. She loved the land and her livestock, especially her Angora Goats. She raised many orphan lambs each year. She was an extremely kind, understanding and patient person. Her love of animals and her gentle ways made her an excellent stock manager and caregiver to all sick and baby animals. However, horses were her first love. When she could no longer be out in the corrals, her house began to fill up with horse memorabilia.


She is survived by her husband, Duane, currently in the Hillcrest Care Center in Hettinger; daughter Deborah (Bruce) Kile, Lemmon, South Dakota; son Darlen Kroft and special friend Cynthia Ashbaker of Hettinger, North Dakota; grandchildren Nicole and Joseph Kroft, Hettinger, North Dakota; Faith Kile of Lemmon, South Dakota; her mother Eileen Brabazon of Lodgepole, South Dakota; sisters Dyann (Leonard) Hanson of Lodgepole, South Dakota, Betty (Mike) Chapman of Rawlins, Wyoming; and several nieces and nephews.


She was preceded in death by her father, Raymond R. Brabazon.


Visitation will be Tuesday 1:00 to 9:00pm at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Hettinger and on Wednesday one hour prior to services at the Assembly Of God Church.