DeLores "Dee Dee" Anne (Braa) Schwab

Click here to view DeLores' Prayer Service.

Click here to view DeLores' Celebration of Life Service.

DeLores “Dee Dee” Anne (Braa) Schwab, 72, of Aberdeen, passed away Monday, July 22, 2019, at Avera Mother Joseph Manor in Aberdeen, following an extended battle with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Arrangements are being handled by Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen.  Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Thursday, July 25, 2019 at Schriver’s mortuary with a public prayer service immediately following.  On Friday, visitation continues one hour before the service at the church.

Dee Dee’s Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, July 26, 2019, at New Life Fellowship, 619 8th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, with Pastor Rodney Johnson leading the service.  To honor Dee Dee’s wishes, you are encouraged to wear brightly colored clothing.

Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Aberdeen.

Family and friends may sign Dee Dee’s online guestbook and view her service via the live stream service link at www.schriversmemorial.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the family preferred.  Memorials can be sent to Gordon Schwab, 307 11th Ave. NW, Apt. 106, Aberdeen, SD, 57401.

DeLores Anne Braa was born June 4, 1947, in Aberdeen, SD, to Elroy and Bette (Harm) Braa.  When she was 3 years old, the family moved to Minneapolis, MN. At age 13, she moved with her mother and siblings to Ellendale, ND.  Dee Dee graduated from Ellendale High School in 1965 and furthered her education at Presentation College in Aberdeen, where she majored in Nursing. 

While attending college, Dee Dee met Gordon Schwab, a Northern State University student, and they were married on August 27, 1966.  During the next 15 years, the couple was blessed with six wonderful children:  Janine, Theresa, Renee, Jason, Nathan, and Rebekah.  Gordon’s career took them to Montana, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Southeastern South Dakota before returning to Aberdeen in 1991.  While being a stay-at-home mother, Dee Dee also worked over the years as a CNA, a Pharmacy Technician, a Home Party Sales Representative, and a Foster Care Provider.  In early 1991, Dee Dee was diagnosed with MS, a battle she courageously fought the rest of her life and was an inspiration to many.  She decided to return to Northern State University (NSU) and Presentation College, where she majored in Social Work with a focus on Gerontology.  Unfortunately, due to poor health, she was one semester short of obtaining her life-long goal of receiving a college degree.

Dee Dee’s other passions and activities include:  Women’s Aglow Fellowship, MS Support Group, Christian Education Teacher, Respect Life Representative, Church Youth Group Co-Leader, Cub Scout Leader, and National Honor Society Member of NSU. Dee Dee loved studying God’s word and the Jewish root of Christianity. She also enjoyed reading, sewing, needlepoint, crocheting, cooking, crafts, and interior decorating.   Dee Dee’s husband was her greatest love. Her greatest joy was being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. 

Blessed to have shared Dee Dee’s life is her husband of 52 years, Gordon Schwab of Aberdeen; her children:  Janine Schwab of St. Paul, MN; Theresa (Joel) Parish of Sioux Falls, SD; Renee (Jeremy) Hawthorne of St. Paul, MN; Jason (Leisa) Schwab of Sartell, MN; and Nathan (Rachael) Schwab of Sioux Falls, SD; her grandchildren:  Amanda (Tom) Gall of Beresford, SD; Zach Parish of Sioux Falls, SD; John “Jack” and Joseph “Joey” Hawthorne, both of St. Paul, MN; Mya, Aleah, Calli, and Landon Schwab, all of Sartell, MN; and Brady and Lily Schwab, both of Sioux Falls, SD; her great-granddaughter, Vera Gall (and sibling soon to arrive) of Beresford, SD; her mother, Bette Durheim of Aberdeen; her brother, Wayne (Vida Jech) Braa of Rochester, MN; her sisters:  Kathi (Gary) Workman of Billings, MT; Deborah (David) Powell of Aberdeen, and Wendolyn (Kermit) Hudson of Hattiesburg, MS; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

Dee Dee was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Rebekah; her father, Elroy Braa; her step-father, Lyle Durheim; and twin brothers who died at birth.

A special thank you to the staff of Avera Mother Joseph Manor, Volunteers, and Avera Hospice from Dee Dee and her family for the special care received and the friendships shared during the last 14+ years.

Dee Dee’s life reflected her deep walk with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

 “Be Joyful in Hope, Patient in Affliction, Faithful in Prayer” – Romans 12:12

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of DeLores "Dee Dee" Anne (Braa) Schwab, please visit our floral store.