Dellamae Lind passed away on the morning of March 22, 2025, at the family home in White Sulphur Springs. She was 88 years old. Della was born in White Sulphur Springs at the old hospital. She was the first child of Clifford Eugene Olsen and Geraldine McCurry Olsen. Five years later, her brother Gene came along. She was baptized in March of 1937 and joined what was then the American Lutheran Church of WSS in April of 1957. She was a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church.
She grew up on the family ranch east of White Sulphur where she helped with haying, driving a team and dump rake, branded cows along with other chores. However, Jim recalls she “never learned to milk a cow”. Horses were always an important part of Della’s life and riding was one of her favorite pastimes including barrel racing and trailing cattle. One of her favorite things to do was catch her horse, Avalanche, and go riding every day after school.
She attended school in White Sulphur Springs and graduated from high school there. After graduation, in 1955, she traveled to Denver and attended Colorado Women’s College, majoring in business. While at college, as a member of the Bit and Spur Club, she rode horses in the prestigious Denver Stock Show.
Her husband Jim recalls meeting Della “right there in the middle of Main Street” at a street dance in White Sulphur. On August 27th, 1957, she married James (Jim) Lind at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Helena. Their good friends, Janet and George Zieg, stood up for them. The rest is history.
After their marriage, they traveled to Spokane for work and lived there for several months. They then returned to the Lind Ranch at Beavercreek, living in Jim’s grandparent’s old log cabin. They made their home there and started a family. Life on the ranch was challenging. The house had no electricity, and all water had to be carried from the in-law’s house down the hill. She cooked three meals a day on a wood stove – rain or shine.
Andy was born in 1958 and Jake in 1960. When Andy was old enough to start school, Della and the boys moved to town, traveling back and forth to the ranch on the weekends. Della initially worked at the First National Bank and later for Meagher County, starting in the Treasurer’s Office before being elected Clerk and Recorder. She held that position until retiring in 1998.
Jim and Della eventually purchased part of her parent’s ranch east of White Sulphur and also purchased Jim’s parent’s ranch at Beaver Creek. At that time, they moved to the ranch outside of town and operated as Lind Family Ranch.
Della was a member of the Lutheran Church and was a board member for the Meagher County Senior Center for 10 years. She walked in the Race for This Place several times and enjoyed her friends and community. Some of her happiest times after she retired was walking up town with her dog Bugger to get the mail and then stopping on the return at Auntie Ruth’s for a cup of coffee. She enjoyed a lifelong friendship with her cousin CJ Glasser, from trailing cows horseback from White Sulphur to Ringing to spending time visiting in their later years.
She will be remembered for her commitment to the community, her love of her family and….her refrigerator cookies, loved by kids and grandkids alike.
She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Jim, her brother Gene Olsen, sons Andy (Jami) and Jake, grandkids, Christina (Chris) Gore, Erica (Jeff) Heim, Anna and Lydia Lind. She is also survived by ten great grandchildren whom she enjoyed very much and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be April 16th at 2:00 PM at the Yoked Parish Church in White Sulphur Springs. A celebration of life will be held at the Meagher County Community Center immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Meagher County Community Center or the Diabetes Foundation.
Jon Doggett says
Dellamae was one of those people who made small towns like White Sulphur work. She was a great public servant and Meagher County was the better for her service. Dellamae was a nice lady and she will be missed.
Coreen Rooney says
So sorry for your loss. Dellamae was such a kind and caring person. She will be missed. Hugs and prayers.