Deloris Amy Waller, 81, of Nampa, Idaho, and formerly of Fergus Falls, died in a Moses Lake, Wash., care center on Monday, Aug. 10, 2009.
Deloris was born on Aug. 2, 1928, to Albin and Amy Bloomquist in Fergus Falls. Upon graduating from high school in 1946, she worked at a ranch in Montana, then moved to Nampa to attend Northwest Nazarene College. She graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music theory in 1950 and earned a Master of Music Education at the University of Idaho in 1954.
She did additional graduate work at the University of Oregon, and passed exams to become an associate in the American Guild of Organists. She was also certified in piano and organ by the Music Teachers National Association. She taught music in Idaho and Minnesota public schools, and at NNC from 1954 to 1973.
She also taught private piano and organ lessons, and was the organist at the First United Methodist Church in Nampa from 1965 TO 2004, playing for numerous weddings and funerals. On July 31, 1955, she married Tom Waller. They had two children, Anita and Bruce.
Deloris loved to play the organ, particularly Bach. Deloris was a life-long learner and enjoyed studying foreign languages. She combined her strong Christian faith with her passion for learning by reading parallel scriptures each morning in French, German, Spanish, and English. In addition to taking college courses in foreign languages and literature over the years, she practiced speaking Spanish by trading piano lessons, and German by bringing lunch to a local German speaker.
In everything she undertook, she strove to do her best. Deloris led the fundraising effort at First United Methodist to move and upgrade the pipe organ to the new church building, and for the digital organ in the Brandt Center at NNU. She also recorded hymns for the Wesley Hymn Collection at NNU, was active in the Nampa Musicale club and the Idaho Music Teacher's Association.
She is survived by her daughter, Anita Waller; son-in-law, Roger Sonnichsen; and granddaughter, Ellinor of Ephrata, Wash.; son, Bruce Waller of Hillsboro, Ore.; twin sister, Doris Rowe of Fort Benton, Mont.; brothers: Gorden Blomquist of Scobey Mont., Marvin and Wanda Bloomquist of Nampa, and Ralph and Patty Bloomquist of Nampa; and many nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents; stepmother, Edna Bloomquist, husband Tom, sister Alice Garrett, and brother Merritt Bloomquist.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to any of the Tom and Deloris Waller scholarship funds established at Northwest Nazarene University (organ, field biology, and nursing), 623 Holly St., Nampa, Idaho 83686.
A Memorial Service to honor and celebrate her life was held on Tuesday, Aug. 18, at College Church of the Nazarene in Nampa, Idaho. Interment was at the Kohlerlawn Cemetery in Nampa.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Alsip & Persons Funeral Chapel, 404 10th Ave. So., Nampa, Idaho 83651. Memories and condolences may be sent to the funeral chapel web site at www.alsipfuneralchapel.com.
Deloris Amy Waller, 81, of Nampa, Idaho, and formerly of Fergus Falls, died in a Moses Lake, Wash., care center on Monday, Aug. 10, 2009.
Deloris was born on Aug. 2, 1928, to Albin and Amy Bloomquist in Fergus Falls. Upon graduating from high school in 1946, she worked at a ranch in Montana, then moved to Nampa to attend Northwest Nazarene College. She graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music theory in 1950 and earned a Master of Music Education at the University of Idaho in 1954.
She did additional graduate work at the University of Oregon, and passed exams to become an associate in the American Guild of Organists. She was also certified in piano and organ by the Music Teachers National Association. She taught music in Idaho and Minnesota public schools, and at NNC from 1954 to 1973.
She also taught private piano and organ lessons, and was the organist at the First United Methodist Church in Nampa from 1965 TO 2004, playing for numerous weddings and funerals. On July 31, 1955, she married Tom Waller. They had two children, Anita and Bruce.
Deloris loved to play the organ, particularly Bach. Deloris was a life-long learner and enjoyed studying foreign languages. She combined her strong Christian faith with her passion for learning by reading parallel scriptures each morning in French, German, Spanish, and English. In addition to taking college courses in foreign languages and literature over the years, she practiced speaking Spanish by trading piano lessons, and German by bringing lunch to a local German speaker.
In everything she undertook, she strove to do her best. Deloris led the fundraising effort at First United Methodist to move and upgrade the pipe organ to the new church building, and for the digital organ in the Brandt Center at NNU. She also recorded hymns for the Wesley Hymn Collection at NNU, was active in the Nampa Musicale club and the Idaho Music Teacher's Association.
She is survived by her daughter, Anita Waller; son-in-law, Roger Sonnichsen; and granddaughter, Ellinor of Ephrata, Wash.; son, Bruce Waller of Hillsboro, Ore.; twin sister, Doris Rowe of Fort Benton, Mont.; brothers: Gorden Blomquist of Scobey Mont., Marvin and Wanda Bloomquist of Nampa, and Ralph and Patty Bloomquist of Nampa; and many nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents; stepmother, Edna Bloomquist, husband Tom, sister Alice Garrett, and brother Merritt Bloomquist.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to any of the Tom and Deloris Waller scholarship funds established at Northwest Nazarene University (organ, field biology, and nursing), 623 Holly St., Nampa, Idaho 83686.
A Memorial Service to honor and celebrate her life was held on Tuesday, Aug. 18, at College Church of the Nazarene in Nampa, Idaho. Interment was at the Kohlerlawn Cemetery in Nampa.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Alsip & Persons Funeral Chapel, 404 10th Ave. So., Nampa, Idaho 83651. Memories and condolences may be sent to the funeral chapel web site at www.alsipfuneralchapel.com.
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