Funeral services for Delite Monahan, 95 of Jefferson will be Thursday, March 12, at the First United Presbyterian Church in Grand Junction. Interment will be at Lost Grove Cemetery in Gowrie. Memorials are suggested to the First United Presbyterian Church or Greene County Medical Center auxiliary.
Glenda Delite Lind was born on May15, 1930, to Raymond and Sadie (Batcheller) Lind. She had two brothers, Dean and Gary Lind. She was born on a farm southeast of Gowrie. The family then moved to a farm northeast of Paton. Delite graduated from Paton High School in 1948 where she was active in choir and band.
Shortly after graduation, she married Larry Gardner. In Grand Junction they raised two children, Michael Andrew and Susan Catherine. In addition to raising her children, she worked as a secretary at Rueter and Zenor’s. Later, she and Larry owned and operated Larry’s restaurant as well as running a concession stand at Spring Lake.
After divorcing, Delite moved to Jefferson and began working at Greene County Medical Center. In 1977, she married Louis Monahan. She retired from Greene County Medical Center in 1992 after 20 years, working mainly as a secretary in the engineering department.
Over the years, Delite enjoyed quilting, crocheting, mending (if you had a hole to patch, she was your girl) gardening and yard work, canning, reading, playing the piano, and baking. Some of her specialties were pear pie, ostakaka (a Swedish custard), fruitcake, which was an acquired taste per her grandkids, and her homemade tapioca.
She loved to sing and was part of a popular trio called the Gospel-ettes. They performed around central Iowa for all kinds of occasions. Delite’s faith was very important to her. She was active in her church, being a member of Presbyterian Women, sang in the choir, taught Sunday school, and directed the junior choir. She and Louie enjoyed traveling to see family and friends across the country. They took many family fishing trips to Canada.
Delite loved animals: her cat Sammy, the squirrels and birds she watched on the feeders behind her house, and a notable fish named Wilhemina which was a 10-pound walleye she caught in Canada that she had mounted on her wall. But as much as she enjoyed animals, she loved her people most of all. She was so very proud of her children and grandchildren, following them through all their activities no matter where they took her. She cherished having family gatherings at her house. They were best at her house, for holidays and special occasions or just a random visit. Family reunions were very important to her, keeping her immediate and extended family along with all their memories, close at heart.
Delite lived up to the meaning of her name every moment of her life. Her name means to convey joy and happiness. In between her big welcoming hugs and her mandatory wave goodbye at the porch, she spread her joy and happiness in her laugh, her feistiness, her silliness, her love for her family, friends and for life. There is no doubt that she is gathering all her people in heaven for the best reunion yet.
Delite passed away March 6, 2026, at Regency Park Nursing Home at the age of 95. She was preceded in death by her husband Louie, former husband Larry, her parents, brothers Gary and Dean, her son Mike, son-in-law Willie, and granddaughter-in-law Heather.
She is survived by her daughter Susan; daughter-in-law Nancy Gardner; grandsons David (Lisa Fagerlind) Lansman, Andy (Lisa) Gardner, and Dean Lansman; granddaughter Amy (Doug) Timmerman; great-grandchildren Allie (Zach Wiggins) Lansman, Dylan (Bonnie) Lansman, Morgan (Ryan Baade) Lansman, Grason (Shelby Stein) Lansman, Logan (Emilee Hamann) Lansman, Taylor Timmerman, Lucas Gardner, Kasha (Max Barlean) Lansman, Adam Gardner, Spencer Timmerman, and Karlee, Bailey and Journey Fagerlind; and great-great-grandchildren Waylon and Dixie Barlean, Eliza Lansman, Yliana Lansman; other relatives; and and friends
Services were arranged by Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, Jefferson, Iowa
