DeLor Stahl, 93, of rural Yale

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YALE — DeLor Stahl, 93, of rural Yale, passed away Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at his home.


His funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Bethel Mennonite Brethren Church in rural Yale. Burial will be in the church cemetery. His service will be live-streamed through the church’s website.


Visitation with family present will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Kuhler Funeral Home.


DeLor Alfred Stahl was born on December 16, 1928, to Joshua B. and Anna Stahl. He was joined by three younger siblings: Julia, Phoebe and LaVerne. Life in the depression and dirty thirties was hard. Multiple generations lived together in a small farm house. The language spoken in his home as a boy was German, his first language. He attended Sunflower grade school in Milford Township.


DeLor and Delores met at a friend’s wedding and they began a three-year courtship. It was often said that it was a match made in heaven because of their names. They were married on June 1, 1950. Later that summer they were both baptized and joined Bethel Church. He was a faithful church member, sang in the choir, served as an elder and the sexton of the cemetery. His habit was to be at church whenever the doors were open until late in his life. He attended the worship service on the Sunday two days prior to his passing.


Three children were born into the family: Delvin, Delphia and Delroy. Later grandchildren enjoyed growing up nearby. Grandchildren remember hearing grandpa praying for each family member by name before breakfast. They knew where the candy box was in the closet.


The farm was his full time job. He was a shepherd caring for his sheep. He also raised pigs and cattle during his lifetime. His family remembers him greasing the farm equipment as well as himself. Mowing and raking hay with Delvin was an all-summer job. During his lifetime he witnessed many changes in the farming industry. In his later years, he helped his sons by opening gates when they were feeding cattle and checking on the cows during calving season. Even in his 90’s he gave rides when asked as they moved equipment from one field to another. Last summer he helped with the harvest by sitting in the tractor and starting the auger when the semi loaded with grain came in from the field.


Jesus was his Rock during the years he struggled with depression and other mental health issues. We are grateful for his recovery and the full life he was able to live. He enjoyed trips to Carpenter for lunch and eating with friends there. He liked playing dominoes and drinking Diet Coke. It was a routine to play Moon each week when Delphia and Gordon came to his house to clean and cook. DeLor stayed on the family farm and functioned independently until the day of his death. He managed his medications, finances and the majority of his doctors and dentist appointments on his own.


DeLor passed away unexpectedly at his home and met his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday, June 28.


He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Delores; his sister, Phoebe (Pyrle) Stahl; his brother, LaVerne Stahl; his brother-in-law, John Diede; and his great-grandson, Joshua Petersen.


Cherishing his memory are his three children, Delvin (Winona) Stahl of Huron, Delphia (Gordon Wiebe) of Doland, and Delroy Stahl of Yale; seven grandchildren, Jennifer Stahl and Charity Stahl of Omaha, Neb., Tiffani (Andy) Pauls of Wichita, Kan., Adrienne (Jeremy) Grace of San Diego, Calif., Allison (Ryan) Petersen of Shoreview, Minn., Austin Wiebe of Minneapolis, Minn., and Jordon (Erika) Stahl of Independence, Mo.; nine great-grandchildren, Noah, Micah and Teyla Petersen, Malachi, Aleah and Michael Pauls, Eno Grace, and Mia and Troy Stahl; one sister, Julia Diede of Redfield; one sister-in-law, Tootie Stahl of Huron; and many extended family members and friends.


Memorials may be directed to James Valley Christian School, Byron Bible Camp and Child Evangelism Fellowship of South Dakota.


           Visit www.kuhlerfuneralhome.com