Delpha P. Whale, 98, died March 4, 2013, at Elm Grove Estates, Hutchinson. She was born April 14, 1914, in Stamford, Neb., the daughter of Claude Roy and Ethel Rebecca Woodruff Pittman.

She graduated from Stamford High School in 1931 and then attended Kearney Teachers College. She taught school in Harlan County, Neb. and in Decatur County, Kan., was a farm wife, was a store clerk in Oxford, Neb., at Bundy Department Store and a bank teller at the Stamford Community Bank.

Delpha married Lewis Blees on May 24, 1936, in Republican City, Neb. He died May 18, 1978. She then married Edward Whale on Aug. 19, 1979, in Alma, Neb. He died June 7, 2003. She had been a Hutchinson resident since 1998. She was a member of the Stamford American Legion Auxiliary, the Christian and Lutheran Church in Stamford and the Trinity United Methodist Church in Hutchinson. Survivors include: daughter, Shanna Soukup and husband Herb of Hutchinson; grandchildren, Pamela Kay Kirk of Lawrence, Jonelle Renee Barrett of McKinney, Texas, Monte L. Soukup and wife Molly of Lawrence; and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters.

Private family graveside services will be held at the Stamford Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Reno County or the Stamford American Legion Auxiliary, both in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.