Delores Johannah Hatterman

Delores Johannah Hatterman, 93, of Herington, Kansas, passed away peacefully on June 2, 2026.

Delores was born on May 28, 1933, near Hope, Kansas, to Carl and Hannah (Albrecht) Kandt. She was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church of Lyons Creek and attended the parochial school there.

In 1948, she was confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church, where she remained a faithful member throughout her life. Her confirmation verse was Psalm 26:8:

“Lord, I have loved the habitation of Thy house, and the place where Thine honor dwelleth.”

She later attended Hope Rural High School, graduating in 1952.

On June 26, 1955, Delores was united in marriage to Harry J. Hatterman of Tampa, Kansas. Together they spent most of their married life farming east of Ramona, Kansas, where they built their home, raised their family, and worked side by side for many years. Following Harry’s passing, Delores moved to Herington.

Delores worked through Kansas SRS as a home health provider, assisting clients with housekeeping, shopping, errands, and other daily needs. She also cared for several private clients throughout the community. Delores took pride in helping others maintain their independence and improving the quality of their daily lives.

Delores was known for her remarkable work ethic and determination. A true farm wife in every sense of the word, she worked alongside her husband, Harry, and their children on the family farm and was never afraid of hard work. Anyone who knew Delores knew she could outwork most men. Together, they raised dairy cows, beef cattle, chickens, and farmed crops, with every family member contributing to the operation. Delores spent countless early mornings and evenings milking cows, gathering eggs, tending livestock, and helping with the many daily tasks required to keep a farm running. She sold eggs to members of the community and local grocery stores and took great pride in helping provide for her family through hard work, perseverance, and faith.

Delores had a passion for gardening and spent countless hours tending a large garden each year. The fruits of her labor filled her family’s table, and her children and grandchildren enjoyed the fresh vegetables and produce she lovingly grew and shared. She also had a special love for flowers and found joy in planting and caring for them throughout her life.

During planting and harvest seasons, Delores could often be found delivering lunches to the fields, making sure her family was fed while they worked long hours. Her kitchen was a place of warmth, laughter, and welcome. She was known as an exceptional cook, and many family meals were made from ingredients she had raised, grown, or preserved herself. She raised chickens for both eggs and meat, and countless family gatherings featured home-raised chicken dinners around the family table. Her mashed potatoes and green beans were family favorites, and no one could make them quite like Grandma.

Even after retiring, Delores never truly slowed down. Those who knew her knew she was always busy and always working on something. In her later years, she devoted countless hours to volunteering with the Orphan Grain Train through St. John’s Lutheran Church. Through this Christian volunteer network, she helped prepare and ship donated food, clothing, medical supplies, and other essential items to people in need around the world. Delores found great purpose in serving others, and her volunteer work reflected the same compassion, generosity, and strong faith that guided her throughout her life.

Faith, family, and service were at the heart of Delores’ life. A lifelong member of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Lyons Creek, she taught Sunday School and faithfully served in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (Ladies Aid). Over the years, she held every office within the Ladies Aid, reflecting her deep commitment to her church and fellow congregation members. Her church family remained a source of strength, fellowship, and purpose throughout her life.

More than anything, Delores loved her family fiercely. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose love was shown through countless acts of kindness, service, and sacrifice. She took great pride in each of her grandchildren and celebrated their accomplishments as if they were her own.

To her grandchildren, Delores was much more than a grandmother. She was a constant presence in their lives, helping care for them, driving them wherever they needed to go, and making sure they were always well fed. She was their biggest fan, rarely missing a sporting event, concert, school activity, or special occasion.

Delores had a special gift for making holidays and family gatherings memorable. Birthdays, Easter dinners and Easter egg hunts, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrations, and New Year’s Eve gatherings with her grandchildren became cherished family traditions. She brought people together and created memories that will be treasured for generations.

Her family will especially remember her unwavering faith and the countless prayers she lifted on their behalf throughout her life. Delores believed deeply in the power of prayer, and her family takes comfort in knowing they were always held close in her heart and in her conversations with God. Her faithful prayers helped guide, protect, and sustain generations of her family, and that legacy of faith will continue long after her passing.

Her greatest joy was her family, and the time she spent with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren created memories that will be treasured for generations. To her family, she was simply the best Grandma.

Delores is survived by her children, Brian Hatterman and wife Nancy of Herington, Kansas; Bradley Hatterman of Orlando, Florida; and Brenda Starr and husband Paul of Burdick, Kansas.

She is also survived by her grandchildren, Erica (Mike) Hatterman; Ashley (Walter) Bautista; Alexis (Justin) Sanders; Briar Starr; and Dalton Starr; her great-grandchildren, Logan Pelz, Raelee Sanders, and Casein Sanders; and her step-great-grandchildren, Ceri Bautista and Elora Bautista.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harry Hatterman; her parents, Carl and Hannah Kandt; her brothers, Raymond, Walter, and George Kandt; and her sisters-in-law.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at Yazel-Megli Funeral Home in Herington, Kansas.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 12, 2026, at St. John’s Lutheran Church of Lyons Creek, west of Herington, Kansas, with burial to follow at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church or Dickinson County Hospice.

Delores lived a life defined by faith, hard work, service, and love. Her hands were rarely still, her door was always open, her table was always full, and her heart was always devoted to caring for others. Her family finds comfort in knowing that she now rests in the arms of her Savior, reunited with loved ones who have gone before her.