Theora Betty (Saupe) DeWaay, born November 3, 1929, on the family farm near Archer Iowa, died peacefully on Monday, June 29, 2026, at the Presbyterian Homes of Bloomington at the age of 96.

    Theora was the second and youngest child of Fred T. Saupe and Mina (Wesselink) Saupe. She attended a nearby country school until the fifth grade when she and her older sister, Lucille, transferred to the Archer Consolidated School in town. She graduated in 1948 and then enrolled in the Iowa State Teacher’s College. Later in life, she attended and received an Associate of Arts degree from Northwest Iowa Technical College.

    At the time of her marriage to Harold DeWaay in 1949, she had been employed as a clerk in an office in Primghar, Iowa. They started their married life in Primghar before moving to the Saupe family farm near Archer in 1950 when Theora’s father, Fred, retired to Primghar. They successfully farmed for 50 years before retiring to Sheldon Iowa. After Harold died in 2001, Theora moved to Bloomington, Minnesota in 2015 to a Presbyterian Homes senior independent living facility where she lived until moving into their long-term care facility in the fall of 2025.

    On the farm, Harold and Theora raised five sons: Robert “Bobby”, David “Dave”, Wayne, Richard “Ricky” and Gary.  All boys attended Archer grade school and graduated from Sheldon Senior High. Though never having any daughters, Harold and Theora were blessed with eight granddaughters who Theora taught to enjoy life, and how to sew. They, along with three grandsons, remember Harold and Theora fondly, as loving, caring grandparents.

    Theora’s interests were centered mostly on her home and church. She liked to read, paint and sew. Many of her family members have her paintings hanging in their homes; she especially excelled in painting flowers. Through the years, Theora had volunteered in many local organizations and held offices in the United Methodist Women, O’Brien County Farm Bureau Women and the Church Council.

    After the boys were grown, Theora and Harold started driving their motor home south in the winter, visiting relatives in Arizona and California. They also did mission trips in their motor home with the United Methodist Nomads. The Nomads were like-minded old timers who would circle their RV’s in parking lots of needy southern ministries and fix buildings and churches. Because of the draw of their grandkids, Doug and Amy (children of David), Harold and Theora eventually bought a semi-permanent mobile home in Tucson. For many winters they escaped the cold and snow of northwest Iowa in Tucson, and the rest of their grown “boys” liked to visit them there also.

    Theora was a loving, caring individual who was very helpful in her church and community. She brought joy everywhere she went and everyone who met her, liked her. Though we all will miss her greatly, we rejoice that she has gone on to her reward in heaven with her Lord Jesus.

    Theora is preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Mina Saupe: her husband, Harold; and her sister, Lucille Brown; also 38 of 40 cousins who used to delight in getting together every summer for “Christmas in July”.

    Theora is survived by her five sons: Robert (Diane) DeWaay of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, David (Donna) DeWaay of Tucson, Arizona, Wayne (Darlene) DeWaay of Hastings, Minnesota, Richard DeWaay of Sioux City, Iowa and Gary DeWaay of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; eleven grandchildren: Jessica (Todd) Kramasz, Colin (Theresa) DeWaay, Doug DeWaay, Amy Anderson, Sara (Andrew Billing) DeWaay, Rebecca (Saign Charlestein) DeWaay, Katherine DeWaay, Lisa DeWaay, Mark DeWaay, Beth DeWaay and Erica DeWaay; seven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.

~ Memorials will be given to the Archer Community Church, Archer, Iowa ~