Obituary for Delmar Lee "Del" Cross
Delmar Lee Cross was born on September 23, 1934, the youngest of eight children born to Clyde and Carrie Cross of Roundup, MT. He and his sister, Ruby Ray were especially close. His parents and all his siblings predeceased him. He grew up in Roundup, married and raised a family there. Even after he moved away, Roundup remained special in his heart and he almost always returned home on the 4th of July to reminisce with old friends and family.
Delmar worked for the Sheriff’s office as an Undersheriff to Tom Steen. He bought the Standard Oil gas station and the Ideal Motel. He drove school bus and loved driving the Roundup Panther sports teams to competitions around the state. He owned Cross Country Trucking. Eventually, he sold the businesses and moved to Billings, MT where he was in charge of Pinkerton Security for Montana. After retirement, he continued to work well into his 80s as a driver for Hertz Car Sales, ferrying cars around the country and getting to drive fancy cars that he loved.
Dad was married three times and had six children. From his marriage to Anna Lekse Cross, he leaves Lee Ann (Ed) Logan, Jeff (Lela) Cross and Janet (Ralph) Stuart. He was especially close to his widowed mother in law, Adofina Lekse who he included in many family vacations. His marriage to Robin Shanholtzer gave our family a daughter, Jennifer (Miles) Steinbach. From his final marriage to Angela Matta (Charles Habeck), his children Devin (Dharma McRyhew) Cross and Cassie Cross were born. He also helped raise numerous other children including Sandy (Dennis) Anderson, Julie (Lon) Carter and Ras Matta. Delmar’s grandchildren were Molly, Jeff (deceased), Elijah, Summer, and Sebastian. He also leaves four great grandsons, Eddie, Leo, Mac and Holden.
Dad had many great loves in his life. He loved sports, especially baseball. His team was the San Francisco Giants and he was so excited that they were having a winning season this year. Vacations were planned around where the Giants were playing so that he could take in a game or two. He loved bowling. He was especially proud that he bowled in 35 national championships and is in the Montana Bowling Hall of Fame. He loved cars, especially Lincolns and Cadillacs and continued to drive until his death. The greatest loves of his life, however, were his children. He loved all of us unconditionally and was especially proud of having had an active role in raising Cassie and Devin. He was living with them at the time of his death.
Delmar loved Jeopardy and old Western shows on TV. He had a wonderful sense of humor and a sharp wit. He was always ready with a joke and a good comeback. He loved giving people a reason to smile and joked with the nurses up to the very end.
In honoring one of the things he loved the most, there will be a memorial pot luck picnic in the Roundup City park sometime in September to celebrate what would have been his 87th birthday. We will try to replicate his famous potato salad! Memorials may be made to any youth sporting organization.
“But since it fell into my lot
That I should rise and you should not
I’ll gently rise and softly call
Good night and joy be to you all.”
--from The Parting Glass
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Delmar worked for the Sheriff’s office as an Undersheriff to Tom Steen. He bought the Standard Oil gas station and the Ideal Motel. He drove school bus and loved driving the Roundup Panther sports teams to competitions around the state. He owned Cross Country Trucking. Eventually, he sold the businesses and moved to Billings, MT where he was in charge of Pinkerton Security for Montana. After retirement, he continued to work well into his 80s as a driver for Hertz Car Sales, ferrying cars around the country and getting to drive fancy cars that he loved.
Dad was married three times and had six children. From his marriage to Anna Lekse Cross, he leaves Lee Ann (Ed) Logan, Jeff (Lela) Cross and Janet (Ralph) Stuart. He was especially close to his widowed mother in law, Adofina Lekse who he included in many family vacations. His marriage to Robin Shanholtzer gave our family a daughter, Jennifer (Miles) Steinbach. From his final marriage to Angela Matta (Charles Habeck), his children Devin (Dharma McRyhew) Cross and Cassie Cross were born. He also helped raise numerous other children including Sandy (Dennis) Anderson, Julie (Lon) Carter and Ras Matta. Delmar’s grandchildren were Molly, Jeff (deceased), Elijah, Summer, and Sebastian. He also leaves four great grandsons, Eddie, Leo, Mac and Holden.
Dad had many great loves in his life. He loved sports, especially baseball. His team was the San Francisco Giants and he was so excited that they were having a winning season this year. Vacations were planned around where the Giants were playing so that he could take in a game or two. He loved bowling. He was especially proud that he bowled in 35 national championships and is in the Montana Bowling Hall of Fame. He loved cars, especially Lincolns and Cadillacs and continued to drive until his death. The greatest loves of his life, however, were his children. He loved all of us unconditionally and was especially proud of having had an active role in raising Cassie and Devin. He was living with them at the time of his death.
Delmar loved Jeopardy and old Western shows on TV. He had a wonderful sense of humor and a sharp wit. He was always ready with a joke and a good comeback. He loved giving people a reason to smile and joked with the nurses up to the very end.
In honoring one of the things he loved the most, there will be a memorial pot luck picnic in the Roundup City park sometime in September to celebrate what would have been his 87th birthday. We will try to replicate his famous potato salad! Memorials may be made to any youth sporting organization.
“But since it fell into my lot
That I should rise and you should not
I’ll gently rise and softly call
Good night and joy be to you all.”
--from The Parting Glass
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