Claire Delores Richie was born October 12, 1939, at the family home in Greene Township, Fremont County, Iowa to Charles Donald “Jack” Douglass and Claire May Sigler Douglass. She entered heaven on February 22, 2026.
Delores graduated from Tabor High School as Valedictorian of the class of 1957. She married Ronnie Lee Richie on December 20, 1959, when Ron was on leave from the US Army. Four sons were born to this union. Ron and Delores moved frequently during their married life, eventually settling in Ringgold County, Iowa. Delores worked many different jobs while raising her family. She was a farm wife and took pride in growing a large garden every year and raising broiler chickens. She canned and preserved the produce from her garden, and butchered and froze the broilers for the family. Delores was an excellent seamstress, making shirts and pajamas for the boys when they were young. Delores made her own wedding gown! She made her granddaughter’s bridesmaid dresses and the baptism gown for her great granddaughter.
Delores worked as a long-distance telephone operator for Northwestern Bell and Continental Telephone companies and was Deputy Treasure for the Ringgold County Iowa Treasurer’s office. Delores and Ron moved to St Joseph, MO after the boys were out of the home and she retired from Apria Health Care. After Ron’s death, Delores moved back to Mount Ayr, IA. Delores was an avid reader. She owned hundreds of books and always had a book close by. She enjoyed reading books about history and faith-based stories. She enjoyed planting flowers and watching them bloom into something colorful and great.
Faith was always an important part of Delores’ life. She attended church faithfully, no matter where the family lived. She served in many different roles within the church throughout her life.
Delores was preceded in death by her husband Ron in 2002; her parents; her father-in-law and mother-in-law Brooks and Velma Richie; brother-in-law Donald Richie; grandson-in-law Eric Reasland; great grandson Jerrad Lorenzen; great granddaughter Hope Lorenzen; and nephew Don Douglass.
She is survived by her boys: Douglass and wife Linda, Blackburn, MO; Daron and wife Kelly, Benton IA; Rick and wife Treanna, Ames IA; and Ryan and wife Reba, Clarinda, IA; 9 grandchildren Tabitha Reasland, Jeremy Lorenzen, Jacquelyn Baker, Trevor Richie, Taylor Richie, Ethan Richie, Blake Richie, Matyll Czahor and Tavender Jones; 11 great grandchildren; brother Charles Arthur “Chuck” Douglass and wife Kathy, Tabor IA; 4 nieces; 1 nephew; and other family and friends.
Services for 86 year old Delores Richie of Clarinda, formerly of St Joseph, MO will be 10:30 am Saturday, February 28 at Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr, Iowa
Burial will be 2:00 pm Saturday at Hazel Dell Cemetery, northeast of Council Bluffs, IA. Open viewing will be held at the funeral home on Friday, February 27 from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm with family present Friday from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Memorials are to the Sleep in Heavenly Peace Bed Program. Memories may be shared at www.armstrongfh.com
