McAninch, Dell Was born in Des Plaines, IL, Dell grew up poor but remembered more happy memories than sad. Her compassionate nature led her to comment that it was easier to be poor then because "everyone was poor." She had an independent childhood with her 2 sisters, biking everywhere, including the Chicago World's Fair. She met a young serviceman, Douglas McAninch of Spokane, WA, in Grant Park in 1942. They dated for a few weeks while he was in training but most of their courtship was by mail while he served in the Army Air Corps in England. When he was discharged in 1945, he hurried back to Des Plaines and married Dell. They drove to Spokane in their 1937 Ford over the Rockies in the winter snows. Doug remembers thinking, "if we make it through this trip, we will make it in our marriage." They were blessed with 3 children, Susan, Ginny and Doug (Marie); 5 grandchildren, Kristine, Heather, Beth, Rick and Annie; and 10 great-grandchildren, Hanna, Lily, Alex, Logan, Jack, Sasha, Marissa, Sofia, Sasha and Katie. Dell was a stay-at-home mom of the 1950's - home perms, Brownies and Girl Scouts, coffee klatches, bowling and bridge club, room mother and chauffeur. She was a loving daughter to her mother, opening their home to her and lovingly tending to her there and then in a nursing home. The family lived in Seattle and then moved to Bloomington, MN in 1962. Dell was always happiest when family was around. The grandchildren have many happy memories of their overnight stays with their Grandma and Grandpa. In 1985, she and Doug moved to Round Lake in Aitkin where she was active as a Lioness and in 1991 she was voted Lioness of the Year. They moved back to the Twin Cities in 2002 and settled into St. Therese of Oxbow Lake in 2005. Dell is survived by her loving husband, Douglas; and 3 generations of family who love her deeply and grieve her passing. Memorials preferred to Allina Home Hospice, 1055 Westgate Dr., Ste. 100, St. Paul, MN 55114.
Published in Star Tribune on 11-15-2011.