Delores Ingeborg Fuchs (Bruhaug) 90, formerly of Minot died May 20, 2025 peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones in Palm Desert, California.
Dee was born August 25, 1934 in Billings Montana, the daughter of Olav and Lucille (Bodkins) Bruhaug. She was raised in Billings and graduated from Billings Senior High School in 1952.
She studied dance with Dona Rita of Billings and later taught dance in Laurel, Montana. She met her husband Jerald at his parent’s rollerskating rink, the “Rollarena” in Billings. He was showing off his skating skills and literally fell for her. After Jerry enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1954, they were married on December 26 of that year. They were then stationed at the New Dungeness Lighthouse near Sequim on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. After his duty they returned home to Billings with their daughter Jeri Lynn.
Jerry was hired in Minot, North Dakota to manage “Skateland” located in the Parker Auditorium. Dee worked alongside him managing the books, music, concessions, sock hops, and taught skating lessons. After it was destroyed by fire in 1962, Jerry joined the Minot Fire Department, and they began building a new skating rink in south Minot known as the “Skatium.” They opened with a cement floor and soon after laid the beautiful maple flooring still visible with the painted figure circles in the building today. They owned and operated the Skatium Roller Rink in Minot until 2006. Dee taught artistic skating and was known to many as “Miss Dee”. She was successful in taking many skaters to competitions within the Northwest Region as well as Nationals and coming home with a First Place National Champion. They competed in figures, freestyle, dance and speed skating. She loved her skaters and was so proud of them!
Dee along with Jerry and their family enjoyed their cabin at Long Lake, spending time with friends, neighbors and the grandkids. They enjoyed their boat, pulling skiers, jet skiing and cruising in the evening on the pontoon. Watching the grandkids catch their first fish and learning to water ski was such a joy! Dee loved listening to the call of the loons.
Dee and Jerry together loved the game of ice hockey and spent many hours watching their boys play. Dee even coached a team of Mites. They sponsored several hockey teams over the years and were active with the Minot Hockey Boosters and billeted players from the Minot Americans. Dee was a room mother, a Brownie leader, Cub Scout leader, a member of a homemakers club, the Roller-Skating Rink Operators Association, a skating competition judge, a business woman, made many beautiful dance costumes and skating outfits, and made the best banana bars and lemon cookies around. She was proud of her Norwegian ancestry and was active with volunteering and giving tours at the Scandinavian Heritage Park in Minot as a member of Son’s of Norway.
In 2014 Dee and Jerry bought a second home in Palm Desert California where they enjoyed sun year round. They had great friends and neighbors in Sun City. Jerry joined the car club, and Dee was active with the tap-dancing and line dancing classes. Dee made great friends with the people she visited daily at the dog park and enjoyed parties and dinners with them. Sometimes all dogs were invited too! Dee loved her doggies!
Dee loved her great grand babies, and they loved their G.G. She was a wonderful and loving mom, grandma, great grandma and auntie!
Dee’s loving family includes her daughter Jeri Lynn (Rick) Ruppert of Palm Desert CA; sons Scott (Janel) Fuchs of Minot ND, and Wade Fuchs (Sharilyn) of Ada, MN; grandchildren: Jacob (Lauren) Ruppert, Melissa (Michael) Morgida, Adam (Alyse) Ruppert, Carson (Casey) Black and Quinn (Aleah) Fuchs; great grandchildren: Landon Crawford, Adelynn Morgida, Gianna Morgida, Layla and Cole Ruppert, Kayla Ruppert, Anna, Ellis and Jens Black; brothers Edward and Robert Bruhaug and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and infant son Gregory Loyd Fuchs.
A service will be held in July at a date to be determined.
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