ABUNDANT GRACE by Carrol Meyers-Dobler
January 2020
This month of January, we acknowledge God’s abundant grace as we face 2020 unaware of the perils and promises the year may bring but ever confident that God’s abundant grace will surround us, encompass us and offer us peace.
Deloris Guenther’s daughter, Barb Manske, describes her mother as “strong-willed”, a trait that would serve her well throughout her life! It is a description that Deloris, herself, does not necessarily recognize or acknowledge, especially now, when at age 99, her days are marked by a quiet, peaceful solitude. None the less, Deloris’ internal strength has carried her through some of the darkest moments a wife, mother and grandmother can face. Read how this beautiful and humble lady’s faith in the Lord has always been front and center in her life.
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song, I praise him.” —Psalm 28:7
Born and raised in Mankato, Deloris Nelson’s life was much like any other girl or boy raised in the early 1900’s. School, church and civic activities kept her busy. While in high school, Deloris met the man who would become her husband, Howard Sheehan. The young couple married in 1938 and quickly settled into their first home, ever so anxious for the sounds of babies crying and children playing. Barb arrived first, joined three years later by her brother, John. Deloris stayed home, joyfully caring for the house and the children, completely unaware of the dark clouds that were building around the family home.
The young family’s dreams suddenly and unexpectedly came to an end when Howard contracted leukemia, passing away in his mid-twenties. Who could have ever predicted this tragedy? The couple had only been married five years! There were two tiny children who needed their dad! How could this be? What would happen to them?
Despite her horrific grief, Deloris took action. Demonstrating her incredible strength and placing her faith in the Lord, Deloris quickly made some changes to the family’s lifestyle. She terminated the family’s rental, singularly packed up the household, and moved back into her childhood home where her parents could provide her with the support and help she so desperately needed. With their assistance, Deloris entered the world of work confident that her children would be well cared for by their grandparents.
It wasn’t easy. There never seemed to be enough money or enough time. Two families occupying one household was sometimes a challenge. Privacy was at a minimum. Loneliness was at a maximum. Still, the family thrived. Deloris’ work at Brett’s Department Store was joyful. She, in fact, loved her work there.
Difficult as these years were for Deloris and her family, God had a plan. Deloris connected with someone very special, someone who, like her, had also lost a spouse. His name was Woodrow Guenther and, in fact, Woodrow’s sister was married to Deloris’ first husband’s brother.
Following their marriage in 1946, the young family moved out of Deloris’ family home intent on building their new life together. Confident that Woodrow’s position with the railroad would be more than adequate to financially support the family, Deloris resigned from her sales position at Brett’s and anxiously looked forward to resuming her role as wife and mother. Three additional children were born of this union: Gary, Judy and Susan.
Over the years, the Guenther family flourished. Deloris’ five children married and gifted her with 12 grandchildren. Fifteen great grandchildren and nine great-great grandchildren completed the Guenther legacy!
Still, the dark, rumbling clouds of death hovered over the family when Woodrow suffered a life-ending stroke, passing away in 1990, coincidentally on the very same day that Deloris’ first husband, Howard, died 47 years earlier. Hard as that was, Deloris’ faith would be tested again when the family suffered the untimely death of a grandchild and the subsequent death four years later of one of their two sons, who happened, also, to be the father of that grandchild.
True to her steadfast faith, Deloris met these deaths with strength that only the Lord could provide. “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him and he helps me.”
Today, Deloris leads a quiet life at Pathstone, where her family visits regularly, and her face lights up at the mention of Pastor Jay’s name! “He’s among the best,” she exclaimed. Deloris will turn 100 in April and God-willing, the family hopes to have a quiet celebration of a life well lived.