Delores Elizabeth Hoyt, age 96, passed away on Wednesday, September 14, 2022 at Cooperstown Medical Center surrounded by loved ones. Delores was born December 30, 1925, the daughter of Rudolph and Louise (Steffen) Lockner, in Cooperstown, ND. She grew up there and graduated from Cooperstown High School in 1944. During those years of schooling, she earned the perfect attendance certificate almost every year. To earn spending money, she worked at the egg factory candling eggs. She ventured to Fargo after graduation where she was a waitress at the infamous Blue Bird Café in Moorhead. When her mother received severe injuries in an automobile accident, she moved back to Cooperstown to help with her care.

While attending a dance at Juanita Lake, she met Elery Hoyt of McHenry. They married February 16, 1948 and made their home on a farm near McHenry. This city gal loved the farm so much that after Elery passed away she continued living on the farm another 18 years with the help of her daughter, Judy, who joined her on the farm in 2007. After 73 years on the farm, she became a resident of the Griggs County Care Center last year. Mom took great pride in her flock of chickens and cherished caring for her many cats and dogs. She was a superb cook and baker. Every Saturday the house was filled with the delicious aroma of her fresh baked bread and cinnamon rolls. Mom’s buttermilk brownies were infamous and often requested at public functions. Gardening was another one of her specialties and in the summer her kitchen would be filled with the smell of her canned fruits, vegetables, and jellies. Her passion for flowers showed in her beautiful flower gardens. Mom’s artistic flair was displayed in her sewing, especially her gorgeous square dance dresses as well as her many other craft items family members were always thrilled to be recipients of.

During Delores and Elery’s 55 years together they had lots of fun attending dances and made many friends while square dancing with the Northern Light Steppers’ Club. She was an active member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Ladies Aid, and did scripture readings. Playing bingo was one of her favorite activities at the Senior Citizens Center where she was a member. Music was a huge love of her life shown in her many years playing harmonica with Elery in the Hoyt Tufte Band entertaining at care centers and senior citizens centers throughout the area. Other instruments she played were the piano and organ, all were self-taught. Her yodeling skills would make any good Swede envious. She played harmonica at the New Rockford Steam Thresher’s Music Show for many years playing as recently as 2018. She was even asked to participate in this year’s show. However, she continued to share her musical talents with the care center residents and staff.

In the later years, she enjoyed filling her time with attending grandkids’ school activities, reading, and word search puzzles. She made many wonderful memories with her two daughters and granddaughter (aka “The Fearsome Four”) taking in many musicals and concerts, one in which she even got a high five from none other than Neal McCoy.

Mom was kind, generous, loved her family and friends, and had a heart of gold.

She is survived by two sons, Larry (Marcia) Hoyt of Pekin, ND and Neil Hoyt of McHenry, ND; two daughters, Judy Hoyt of McHenry, ND and Ardys (Tom) Dahl of Cooperstown, ND; 9 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren; and sister-in-law Mylerna Hoyt of Cooperstown.

Delores was preceded in death by her husband Elery; one son, Roger; her parents; brothers, Clarence, George, and Wayne; sisters, Mavis and Myrtle; 3 sisters-in law; and 4 brothers-in-law.

She will be greatly missed and will forever hold a special place in our hearts.

The family requests memorials be given to Bethlehem Cemetery.

Delores’ Visitation will be Wednesday, September 21, 2022 from 6:00PM-7:00PM followed by a Prayer Service at 7:00PM all at Evans Funeral Home, Carrington.

A Funeral Service will be held Thursday, September 22, 2022 at 1:00PM at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, McHenry, ND.

Her Burial will be at the Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery, McHenry, ND.