Delia "Dell" Osborne, 78

Delia "Dell" Osborne, 78, peacefully joined the Lord our God, her parents, sister, brother, sister-in-law and son on Nov. 26, 2004.

She was born Delia Mary Bourassa on Jan. 24, 1926, in Flaxville. After graduation from high school, Delia moved to Great Falls, taught school for a year, then went to San Francisco via Seattle, where she worked for the Internal Revenue Service.

Delia met David L. Osborne of Princeton, W. Va., on New Year's Day 1946 on the Oakland Bay Bridge where the bus they were riding broke down. David, who was stationed with the Navy on Treasure Island, and Delia were married two months later on March 20, 1946.

This loving union of 58 years brought six children: Jody (Richard) Fee of Charlotte, N.C., Diana (Duane) Johnson of Whitefish, Gloria Osborne (Mike McPherson) of Brookings, Ore., Carolyn Drouin (John Layne) of Whitefish, David Osborne (Nancy Olson) of Brookings, Ore., and Danny Osborne, who is deceased.

Dell was loved by her grandchildren: Michelle (Jim) Dyon, Darrell (Nicole) Johnson, Tim (Brandy) Sammon and Louella (Daryl) Sletten, all of Whitefish; Melissa, Jennifer and Samantha Osborne of Winston, Ore.; Anthony Osborne of Brookings, Ore.; Rebecca (Todd) Fitkin of Eugene, Ore.; Samantha Cornett of Portland, Ore.; Brian (Erica) Fee of Chicago; and Peter Fee of Madison, Wis.

Surviving brothers and sisters include Omer (Carol) Bourassa, Jean (Delores) Bourassa and Annette (Mick) Mitchke, all of Pinetop, Ariz.; and Eileen (Alvin) Schugun of Scobey.

Extended family include Stephanie Nowack of Tempe, Ariz.; Ralph and Aleida Salort, Ralph (Elizabeth) Salort, Vivian (David) Salort-McCombie, all of Miami, Fla.; Robert (Marti) Sammon of Phoenix, Ariz.; and Kristy Fenrich of Brookings, Ore.

Great Gramma and Aunt Dell will be missed by numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

She was preceded in death by her parents, J.B. and Aurora Bourassa; a sister, Luella Bourassa; a brother, Lyle, and a sister-in-law, Opal Bourassa; and her loving son Danny.

Besides spending time with her family, fishing, camping, hunting and traveling, she found time to dedicate years with the Catholic Daughters of America as past regent and California state representative. She was past president and longtime member of the Catholic Altar Society in Brookings, Ore. Dell was a member of the Lewis and Clark Search and Rescue out of Helena for many years.

Dell will always be known for the fact that she never turned away when she found someone in need. Her heart was open to all and she will be missed by her family and friends.

Visitation will be 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home.

A Mass of Christian burial will take place at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1, at St. Charles Barromeo Catholic Church in Whitefish. Burial will follow at Glacier Memorial Gardens in Kalispell.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the St. Charles Memorial Fund or to a charity of the donor's choice.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.