Delores Anna (Schwindt) Gilligan was born September 13, 1938, to Joseph and Dorothy (Friesz) Schwindt at the family farm southeast of Fayette, North Dakota. She was the oldest of eight children.

Delores attended Dickinson High School and graduated in 1956. She met her soulmate, William Gilligan, while he was stationed at the Air Force base. They married on June 30, 1960. Their honeymoon consisted of driving to their new home in Weymouth, Massachusetts to live and start their family. They had four children.

Delores peacefully passed away on Friday March 29, 2024, at the Sidney Health Center Extended Care Facility with family by her side.

Delores is survived by her children William, Jeffery, and Gary Gilligan all of Sidney; grandchildren John Jenkins of Farmington, New Hampshire, Franklin Jenkins of Sidney, Montana, Gary Gilligan Jr. of Bozeman, Montana, Zackery Gilligan of Sidney, Montana, and Dakota Gilligan of Sidney, Montana; great-grandchildren Zoey Schumacher of Great Falls, Montana, Dani-Rae Gilligan of Texas, Daci-Mae Gilligan of Texas, and Gunner Gilligan of Bozeman, Montana; brothers Ronald Schwindt of Billings, Montana, Steve (Regina) Schwindt, and Harold Schwindt of Oglivie, Minnesota; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends all over the country.

She is preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Dorothy; husband Bill; sister Margaret; brothers Wayne, James, and Gerald, and her only daughter Karen.