Delores M. Nikunen

Delores M. Nikunen, 84, of Thornton, CO, passed away Sunday, July 20, 2025 at Life Care Center of Westminster.

Dee was born November 23, 1940 in Orange City, IA to Peter J. and Lorine (Kiewel) Mulder. She attended Klondike, IA and Flandreau, SD schools and ultimately graduated from Washington High School, Sioux Falls, SD in 1959. She graduated from Minnesota School of Business, Minneapolis, MN in 1960. Dee married John R. Nikunen June 30, 1960. They settled in Embarass, MN. Dee worked for Judge Ralph Harvey until they moved to Thornton, CO in 1973. She was a legal secretary for George Ashen for over 20 years. She then worked for Lincoln Financial until her retirement.

Dee was a good cook and she knew it! She had a quick smile and a twinkle in her eyes. John and Dee always had a bountiful vegetable garden. She would preserve the fruits of their labor by canning or freezing the produce. She loved to bless others by sharing her cooking and baking. Dee crocheted many beautiful afghans that she also gifted to others. They had many, many pets through the years. Dee was a long time member of St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Northglenn, CO.

Surviving are her husband of 65 years, John, Westminster, CO; her brother, Pete, Hackett, AR, sister-in-law, Dar Mulder, Flandreau, SD, step sister, Clarice Dean (Dennis), Las Vegas, NV; sisters-in-law Sue Knauer (Jack), Minneapolis, MN, Diane Nikunen, Rushford, MN and Kathy Gentilini (Ben), Virginia, MN; nephews and nieces, Doug Mulder, Flandreau, SD, Colleen Headrick (JD), Lebanon, IL, Michelle Lasiter (Ralph), Hackett, AR, Tony Mulder (Lela), Bella Vista, AR, Jeff Knauer (Anne) and Nancy Knauer (Laura) both of Minneapolis, MN.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a step father, Elmer Kuehn, a step mother, June Mulder, her in-laws, John and Selina (Hendrickson) Nikunen, her brother, Jim Mulder and niece, Pam Schipper.