On Thursday, September 4, 2025, just a week short of her 99th birthday, Delsie Marie Cumming passed away peacefully at her home, Rainycrest.
Delsie was born on September 11, 1926, in Sprague, Man., to Ella and Ronard Kleven, the third of five children: Elvera, Elaine, Delsie, Arnold and Ron. Her father worked for CN and was transferred to Hudson, Ont., when she was a youngster. As a teenager she and her sister Elaine came to Fort Frances where they attended high school.
Del, as she preferred being called, was always a “people” person. She loved to talk and enjoyed visiting with people. Her father would often send her on errands because she would surely come home with interesting information. People were rarely a stranger for any length of time.
After high school she considered nursing as a career but soon found herself working at Great West Life in Winnipeg instead. She met Bob Cumming, the older brother of one of her friends and soon married on September 1, 1948. They started their married life in Yorkton, Sask., Bob working at the Yorkton Enterprise and mom looking after their baby, Jim. After Bob’s father, who had purchased the Fort Frances Times several years prior, suffered a stroke, Bob and Del returned to Fort Frances, Bob to work at the paper.
Two more children followed, Don and Linda, and Del was busy at home raising children. Over morning coffee, she made lifelong friends in the neighbourhood. As the children grew, she returned to work, first at Don Law Hardware and then Betty’s. In 1971, Del began working in the front office of the Times as a bookkeeper. The staff quickly became a new family. Their lives and families were important to her. She was genuinely interested in hearing all about them. She continued to receive letters, cards and visits from former employees who had moved on but still wanted to stay connected to her. She was proud that she was able to continue working well into her 80’s.
Bob and Del enjoyed travelling, often to Community Newspaper events held across the country, as well as road trips to the east and west coasts, visits with Bob’s sister Marguerite in the Virgin Islands and a tour of England and Ireland. Summers were spent on Rainy Lake on Turtle Island where swims before breakfast were mandatory, and evenings watching sunsets were precious. Winter brought afternoons and evenings spent playing bridge with friends.
The arrival of grandchildren was a long-awaited highlight, all six arriving within five years. She and Bob would rearrange their schedules to be available for babysitting duties. She was so proud of them all and encouraged their individual interests. She loved talking and learning from them, always curious about what they were up to, their schooling, work, and new families.
Del liked to volunteer, preferring to stay out of the limelight. Before returning to active employment, she volunteered with ARC industries, taught Sunday School, was a member of the Knox United UCW, and joined the Order of the Eastern Star. In later years she joined the LaVerendrye Hospital Auxiliary and was a founding member of the Friends of the Library and social advisor for Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. Every July, she with good friends would work at the Bass Championship getting tickets ready for the big raffles as well as other volunteer activities.
After Bob’s passing in 1995, Del could be found with her great friends, Evie, Edith, Marg and eventually Grace, sharing companionship, lots of laughter and supporting the community. Together they would attend every tea, fundraiser, theatre, or concert and purchase all the tickets. Friday lunches at LaFlambé were a ritual and they rarely missed a soiree.
As Del aged, she developed macular degeneration, which was complicated by her memory loss. At 91, she became a resident of Rainycrest where she received wonderful care. She was extremely grateful for the kindness she was given.
Del was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, friend, and mentor. She always was encouraging and positive in her attitude to others. She preferred to lift one’s spirits and never be a burden to anyone. She was grateful for her family, her friends, and her caregivers. She had a smile for everyone and was extremely welcoming.
Del was pre-deceased by her parents Ronard and Ella Kleven; her husband Robert (Bob) Cumming; parents-in-law James and Anne Cumming; sisters and brothers-in-law Elvera and Leonard Haver, Elaine and Ron Anderson, brother and sister-in-law Arnold and Helen Kleven, Bob’s sisters Georgina Cumming, Marguerite (Muggs) and her husband, Weston Russell; and nephew Doug Anderson.
She is survived by her children Jim and Marnie Cumming, Don and Mags Cumming and Linda and Rod Plumridge; grandchildren and great-grandchildren Tanya and Marlon Jerome (Ben, Elan), Graham and Ashley Cumming (Tayah, Laken, Oakley), Brendan and Eleni Cumming (Delsie, Zoe), Adam Cumming and Meesun Shin, Jeff and Abbey Plumridge (Ella, Adelyn), Rob Plumridge and Allison Musson (Isabelle); brother and sister-in-law Ron and Ruth Kleven; niece Cheryl Armstrong; nephews Blair Anderson, Mark and Jon Kleven and their families.
Funeral services will be held Monday, Sept 15, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Knox United Church, Fort Frances, Ont. Honorary pallbearers are her grandchildren.
If friends so wish donations may be made to Friends of the Fort Frances Public Library c/0 601 Reid Ave, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 0A2, or a charity of their choice.
