Obituary of Della Mae Fenno

Della Mae Fenno, 84, of North St. Paul, passed away on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at Our Lady of Peace Hospice & Home Health Care in St. Paul. She was born April 20, 1939, in Groton, South Dakota to Leo and Marge (Georgens) Udelhofen. Della grew up in Groton and graduated from Groton High School in 1957. After high school she moved to St. Paul, MN with her brother Ray and worked for Minnesota Mutual Insurance agency.

Della met Leslie (Lee, Roy) Fenno on a blind date set up by mutual friends. They dated for two years and married on October 10, 1964, on the eastside of St. Paul. The couple made their home at 2536 E. 16th Avenue, North St. Paul where they stayed for nearly 60 years. During that time, they welcomed their daughter Ann and their son, Les Jr. and became permanent members of the North St. Paul community.

Della spent the first years of her marriage as a stay-at-home wife and mother. Taking care of all the business of running a household while caring for two young children. Once Ann and Les were in school, Della took a “part-time” job as a substitute school “lunch lady” at Cowern Elementary in District 622. The ideal job that allowed her to work when the kids were in school and have the summers off when they were off – she was WAY ahead of her time! The substitute job turned permanent when she took a job at Maplewood Junior High as the assistant kitchen manager and then in 1980 becoming the Manager and “Head” cook at North High in North St. Paul. She was loved by many at North, and yes, her kids did pay for their own lunches.

Della enjoyed Sunday service at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, crossword puzzles, Sunday drives, time at Ann and Scott’s cabin on Rush Lake, Wild Hockey, and spending time with family and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents Leo and Marge, and brother and sister-in-law, Ray, and Pat Udelhofen. Della is survived by her husband Les Sr., daughter Ann (Scott) Ryberg of Eagan, Les, Jr of Maplewood, two grandchildren Rebecca Ryberg (Marques Words), Jonathan Ryberg (Emily Futhey), 3 great-grandchildren MacLain, Maddex and Miller Words, and brother Roy Udelhofen, as well as other relatives and friends.

Funeral Service Monday February 12 at 11:00am, with visitation 10:00-11:00am at St. Marks Lutheran Church, 2499 Helen St. No, North St. Paul, MN 55109

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Our Lady of Peace Hospice & Home Health Care at: Our Lady of Peace/Attn: Lisa Sweeney, 2076 St. Anthony Avenue St. Paul, MN 55104 (please make checks payable to Our Lady of Peace) or secure Online gifts may be made at: SupportOLP.org