Dolores "Delly" Presley

Dolores A. Delly Presley, 84, of Great Falls,passed away February 26, 2014 at Peace Hospice after a brief illness.Afuneral service will be held Saturday, March 8, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel with a reception to follow at Schnider Funeral Home. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.A lifelong resident of Great Falls, Mom was born in the oldColumbus Hospital to Percy and Margaret (Gutenberg) Larson on August 11, 1929. She grew up on the west side, attended Franklin Elementary School and graduated from Great Falls High School in 1947. She was always proud of the fact that she was from Great Falls especially the west side. In 1948, she married Jerry Rawles. They eventually divorced but remained friends.Mom led a very colorful life. She was the only female radio disc jockey long before womens lib came along and hosted a radio program on KMON Radio. In 1957, she set what was believed to be a womens endurance record for continuous broadcasting, completing an on-the-air stint of 100 hours 12 minutes and 30 seconds in the window of the former Barbers Furniture Building. In 1958, she hiked from Cascade to Great Falls, escorted by three Marine recruiters wearing full packs in a novel stunt to help raise money for the March of Dimes. She also worked for a time for what was then, KUDI Radio as traffic manager and general all around gal Friday. Mom worked for Boeing when the missiles first came to Malmstrom Air Force Base. When they wanted to transfer her to North Dakota she decided to find a new career path. She worked as a waitress at Eddys Supper Club which is where she met the love of her life, Jimmie Lee Presley. They were married on January 29, 1966 and enjoyed 16 years together until his death in 1982.Mom was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1971 and despite years of pain and decreased mobility, she always had a smile and kind word for those around her.After Jim died, mom devoted herself to volunteer work and was honored by the Great Falls Business and Professional Women as their Woman of Achievement for 1990 for her work as the director of the FISH program and her work with the Holiday Food Drive which was then sponsored by radio station KQDI. She was also the official band mom for the CMR band and worked for many years popping popcorn to raise money for the band at the Rustler football games. She was also involved in the CMR Booster Club. Her last job she held was the crosswalk guard for Riverview Elementary School.In 2004, she moved to the Rainbow House apartment building where she built many friendships with the residents. She organized all of the class reunions for the GFHS Class of 47 most recently their 65th reunion in 2012 along with organizing the monthly Class of 47 lunches at the City Bar. She enjoyed watching TV, having lunch with her reunion classmates, coffee in the morning with Lorraine and Monty, shopping with Gail, her 4:00 p.m.beer with Ellen but mostly mom just enjoyed life. She touched the lives of many and will be missed by them all.She is survived by her daughters, Nancy (Barry) Rafferty and Tina Palagi;grandchildren James (Melissa) Rafferty, Kelly (John) Frick, Sara Palagi and Aimee Palagi; andgreat-granddaughters Hannah Rafferty and Addison Frick.She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Presley; parents Percy and Margaret (Gutenberg) Larson; brother William; along with several aunts, uncles and cousins.Memorials may be made to Peace Hospice, 1101 26th St S, Great Falls, MT 59405; My Neighbor In Need, 525 Central Ave, Great Falls, MT 59401; or the Great Falls Rescue Mission, 326 2nd Ave S, Great Falls, MT 59405.