Dolores May Savelkoul

On August 28, 2026, Dolores Savelkoul passed away peacefully at the age of 102, after a rich and fruitful life filled with family, friendship, curiosity, and joy. Born in North Minneapolis on July 16, 1924, she was the eldest daughter of Theodore and Edith Savelkoul and a longtime resident of Golden Valley, Minnesota, where she made her home for 60 years. In 2018, she moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to be closer to her daughter.

Dolores had a lifelong love of literature and the arts. A voracious reader with a sharp mind and an enduring appreciation for beauty and ideas, she earned a B.A. in English, a B.S. in Education, and an M.S. in Library Science from the University of Minnesota. She shared that love of learning through a long career in education, especially during her years as a librarian in the Robbinsdale School District, before retiring in June 1988.

She embraced life with warmth, humor, and a generous spirit. Dolores loved gathering with friends for happy hours, coffee and bagels, movies, travel, conversation, and a glass of white wine on ice. She was also an enthusiastic Minnesota sports fan, cheering for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, the Minnesota Twins, and the Minnesota Vikings.

Travel brought Dolores great pleasure, especially when shared with the people she loved. For more than 20 years, she spent winters in Coronado, California, with her sister and brother-in-law, Merriam and Bill Gorman, treasuring the warmth, the memories, and the time together. She also delighted in journeys across North America, Mexico, and Europe with family and friends.

Above all, Dolores treasured her family. She was a beloved mother, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother, survived by her children, Catherine (Steven) Bonser, Michael Richter, and David Richter; her grandchildren, Aaron (Jennifer) Bonser, Laura (Benjamin) Cerza, Kristen (Marcus) Todd, Timothy Richter, Rebecca (Richter) Sammis, Jennifer (Dylan) Soberg, and Amanda (Matt) Harris; and her 12 great-grandchildren. Known affectionately as Aunt Dee Dee to many nieces, nephews, and their families, she held a special place in the hearts of her extended family.

Dolores was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Donald (Mary Jo) Savelkoul; her sisters, Vyonne Savelkoul and Merriam (William) Gorman; and many other relatives. The longest-living member of her family and extended family, she often marveled at her longevity, which she attributed to her calm approach to life and frequent happy hours. She will be remembered for her sharp mind, her devotion to family and friends, her love of the arts and travel, and most of all, her fun-loving approach to life.

A Catholic Service will be held at Gearty- Delmore Funeral Chapels, 3888 W Broadway Ave, Robbinsdale, MN 55422 on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Friends are welcome to greet the family starting at 1:00 p.m. Interment will be private. A Celebration of Life gathering will be held at Pub 42, 7600 N 42nd Ave, New Hope, MN 55427 immediately following the ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Dolores's name can be made to St Anne's Retirement Community, https://stannesrc.org/donate, or Hospice & Community Care, Development Office, 685 Good Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601. https://www.hospiceandcommunitycare.org/in-honor-in-memory-gifts/