Dolores Mae Palmquist

Dolores Mae (Lund) Palmquist, 84, of Los Angeles went to be with our Lord on August 17 at 12:10 pm. She died peacefully after being very alert for recent visits from almost all members of her family.
Dolores was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on October 10, 1929, to Einar Alvinius Lund and Mamie Olga Mary (Field) Lund. She was the youngest of five children with all her siblings predeceasing her. She grew up in Mason City, Iowa, and worked in her mother's bakery (Lund Bakery). She came to know her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at a young age. As a student, she excelled in math, winning the 1947 high school math contest for the entire state of Iowa. She graduated from Mason City High School and received a major degree in Bible and a minor degree in music after attending Wartburg College and Carthage College. She was commissioned as a parish worker at Central Lutheran Church in Mason City, Iowa, and served as a parish worker for two years in Clinton Iowa. She met the love of her life, Richard Herman Palmquist, at church camp and after many subsequent summers became his "PW" (Pastor's Wife as she called herself) on June 28, 1953, in Mason City, Iowa.
After the birth of their first child, Philip Ed, Richard and Dolores became missionaries in Nome Alaska, building a radio station. The second child, Stephen Richard, was born in Nome with severe medical issues. This necessitated moving the growing family to the Bay Area where soon child number three, Mary Margaret, joined the family. The young couple co-founded Family Stations, Inc. (now known as Family Radio) where Dolores was involved in music programming as well as hosting a children's program called "Happy Time with Aunt Dolores". Her devoted heart for sharing the Gospel inspired her to be involved in organizing many Good News Clubs. Soon they were to "top" off the family with baby number four, Timothy Owen, and put a "cap" on the first generation of their offspring, with Carol Anna.
The family of seven moved to Sun Valley, California, where Dolores did in-home child care, taught piano lessons and was actively involved in PTA. She loved nutrition and one of her favorite sayings was "it's delicious and nutritious too!" She loved to play piano and often played "Clair de Lune" by Claude Debussy as her children were falling off to sleep. Somehow, she even found time to sew outfits for herself and her children.
In 1970, the family settled in Delano, California, where Dolores worked as a church secretary at Delano First Baptist Church for several years and devoted countless hours to music programming at KDNO Christian radio station. She often played piano or organ at church.
She also worked as Copy Editor for Enterprise News and Handi-Directory in Southern Tulare County and was truly a journalist at heart. She poured her heart into writing a history memoir of her mother entitled "My Mama Mamie" and was instrumental in the writing of her parents-in-laws' history "Margaret and Herman" (Palmquist).
Her love of music caused her to write a special verse for her favorite hymn, "Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us," which was sung not only at her own wedding but also at the weddings of her five children. She absolutely loved her family and was dedicated to documenting her love through video, photo, and written format so family would never be forgotten by family. Bringing family together to celebrate family was a high priority throughout her life. She loved to travel, especially to Branson Missouri, to Hawaii, and to visit relatives in Iowa, Sweden and Norway. She played a mean game of Scrabble and was proficient at the daily Crossword. Her witty use of words often made its way into cards lovingly given to family members. She loved reading the Bible, gardening, collecting panda bears and lighthouses and emailing family and friends.
Her retirement years were spent in Nipomo California, where she loved entertaining her ever-growing family. She began her long battle with COPD and Congestive Heart Failure during these years. Eventually she moved to assisted living homes near her children, where Phil and Carol often attended to her needs.
Dolores loved the Lord dearly and was at peace in her life right up until the end. She is survived by her ex-husband Richard Herman Palmquist of Nipomo, California; sister-in-law Margaret Ann Ransom (husband David) of Libertyville, Illinois; son Philip Ed Palmquist (wife Robyn) of Santa Barbara, California; son Stephen Richard Palmquist (wife Natalya) of Hong Kong; daughter Mary Margaret Petrie (husband David) of Indio, California; son Timothy Owen Palmquist (wife Terri) of Tehachapi, California; and daughter Carol Anna MacNeill (husband Steve) of Los Angeles, California. Her grandchildren are Sarah Squire, Katie Kihlstrom, Daniel Palmquist, Joy Palmquist, Jonathan Palmquist, Grace Palmquist, (baby boy Palmquist due in January), Joshua Petrie, Tabitha Carnes, Lydia Petrie, Benjamin Petrie, Andrew Palmquist, Amy Garland, Micah Palmquist, Matthew Palmquist, Jacob Palmquist, Joseph Palmquist, Caleb Palmquist, Christian Palmquist, Samuel Palmquist, Sarah Palmquist, Esther Palmquist, Jeffrey MacNeill, Michael MacNeill, and Kevin MacNeill. Her great grandchildren are Felicity Squire, Emma Squire, (baby Squire due in February), Ethan Palmquist, Levi Petrie, Ezra Petrie, Owen Palmquist, Onalyn Palmquist, Jaxon Palmquist, Elizabeth MacNeill and Blake MacNeill.
Dolores was truly a Proverbs 31 woman! Her legacy will live on through her loving family.
Celebration of Life will be 9 am Friday August 22, 2014 at Forest Lawn –Hollywood Hills 6300 Forest Lawn Drive Los Angeles CA 90068.
Old North Church
Reception following graveside service