SAWYER, Delores E. "Dee" (BANGSTON)

BANGSTON, SAWYER, NELSON, BALDUS, GULDEN, STEGER, VANT, PARKS, GEBHARD, HIGHLAND, ILLG, STEGER

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 12/18/2013 at 19:35:47

Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
June 07, 2010

Obituary - Delores E. "Dee" (Bangston) Sawyer
October 07, 1919 ~ June 05, 2010

Delores "Dee," was born in Lake Wilson, Minn., the daughter of Axel and Nellie (Nelson) Bangston. At the age of 10, she moved with her family to Goldfield, Iowa. In high school, she won the Iowa State Typing Contest and also enjoyed playing the clarinet. Dee graduated from Hamilton Business College in Mason City and became a secretary/receptionist for KGLO radio where she met Roger Sawyer, a radio engineer.

Dee and Roger were married on March 31, 1940, at the home of her parents in Goldfield. They lived in Mason City and raised their three children. She will be remembered as a good mother and a wonderful cook. After her children were grown, she worked as a secretary at the First United Methodist Church and the Northwestern States Portland Cement Company.

In her retirement, she enjoyed golf, bridge and bowling, especially attending many national bowling tournaments. Dee was a member of First United Methodist Church, sewing club, book club, as well as several bridge clubs. Roger and Dee enjoyed 59 years of married life before he passed away in 1999. A few years later she was re-united with a high school friend, Ken Baldus, who was living in Portland, Ore. He was also widowed and decided to move back to Iowa to be with Dee. He was a wonderful companion and brought her much happiness in the remaining years of her life.

Dee is survived by her three children, Suzanne (Dr. Kent) Gulden of White Bear Lake, Minn., Tom (Joan) Sawyer of Clear Lake, and Kaye Steger of Mason City; her seven grandchildren, Dr. Wendy Gulden (Edward Vant), Christopher Gulden, Jeffrey Sawyer, Stephen (Tricia) Sawyer, Kerry Sawyer, Scott (Susie) Parks and Natalie (Jeff) Gebhard; her nine great-grandchildren, Esteban and Savannah Vant, Graham and Collin Sawyer, Courtney, Jack and Kaylee Parks, Sydney and Gretchen Gebhard; her nieces and nephews; and her devoted companion, Ken Baldus.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Roger; parents; brothers, Kenny Bangston, Wayne and Merrill Highland; sisters, Edna Highland and Olive Bangston Illg; and son in-law, Ken Steger.

[Interment was made at Buckingham Cemetery, Traer, Iowa.]

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, December of 2013