Obituaries

Sorry to hear about Delbert passing. I worked at Northern and had great respect for the welder. He seemed like he could do anything and do it right. I had several farm projects for him to fix for me during my time there, and he always said that he didn't know if it could be fixed, but then later on, he would tell me to pick up my project as it was fixed and done right. I can still seem him sitting at his desk in the welding shop doing paper work and playing cards at dinner and break. He was a good person. He will be missed. Deb Boots Contner

Our love and prayers go out to the family and friends of Delbert. His life reflected peace and tranquility. Rev. James H. and Lois Ingalls

I met Delbert the first few days after I started at Northern. I was told to take a pickup with a piece of pipe in the bed of it for Delbert to cut. I pulled up to his welding shop and backed up, for getting the pipe was sticking out and stuck it thru the garage door. Delbert come running out and said another new kid! I didn't mean too, I just forgot. He said you know how many guys have done that? Just about everyone that gets sent down here, but if you can help, no one will ever know. He always had a section of garage door panel that he kept on hand, just for these learning experiences with new guys. This is just between you and me. OK! While we were putting in the panel he said you know I backed into it a couple weeks ago myself, it was the same panel. He cut the pipe for me and we both laughed and I went back to the engine room with the shorter pipe. The mechanic said that took a little longer than usual just to cut the pipe. You didn't back into the door did you? I said yes and told him the story. Everybody has done that once or twice! Delbert went thru several welders helpers that first year i was there and growled at everybody for being slower than he liked, there was several new guys that year. I learned that was just Delbert, as did all the others, Delbert could weld with the best of them and was great to work with. Back in those days we had some pipeline to take care of along with the storage field. Delbert and I were sent to Earlham one day to do a modification on the town border station, when the wind really picked up and it started getting darker. Somebody's trapoline come rolling towards us as we were sitting in the welding truck ,waiting for the storm to clear and it hit the back of the truck and bounced over us. Delbert said we hadn't seen nothing right? Yes sir was my comment and we left. He was very proud of his job and the fact that he worked for Northern Natural Gas for quite a few years and was accident free. It was truly an honor to be his helper for a period of time, always thinking if I was ever a welder, I'd sure like to be as good as he was. It takes a special woman and family to put up with Northern's work schedules.

Sorry to hear about Delbert, I enjoyed working with him at Northern. You are in our prayers

So sorry about Delbert's passing. When I was highchair age he would stay with Mom and Dad. Whenever I saw him in later years he would remind me of that. He helped Dad his uncle with summer farm work. In the last few years we would run into Delbert and Mary Lee at restaurants - Hickory Park, shopping mall in Ft Dodge. We discovered tbey went to St Ave Cafe most Friday and we would purposely go there sometimes to sit and visit. Delbert has the "Johnson crinkley eyes". We will miss him.

Please accept our sympathy on your loss. We are very sorry to learn of this. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Darwin and Evelyn