Jamestown Resident and Local Worker Delores Sam Dies at 76

Delores Sam, 76, of Jamestown, died Dec. 26, 2025, at Eventide in Jamestown. Born May 8, 1949, in Medina, North Dakota, Sam spent most of her adult life working in businesses and programs across Jamestown, connecting her to multiple generations of residents.

She attended Medina Public School and later held jobs at several local establishments, including McDonald’s, Burger King, Ponderosa and Wagon Masters, as well as nonprofit and rehabilitation employers such as Easter Seals and the Goodwill Store. Sam also participated in the Green Thumb program and Experience Works, both initiatives that place older adults in part-time and supportive employment roles. Those positions kept her visible in the community and contributed to everyday services that residents rely on.

Sam enjoyed travel, with visits to destinations such as Disney World and Mount Rushmore listed among her personal highlights. She was preceded in death by her parents and several siblings. Survivors include nieces, nephews and a great-nephew.

A memorial service is scheduled at Eddy Funeral Home in Jamestown, and burial will be held in spring at Highland Home Cemetery.

Sam’s work history illustrates a common pattern in Stutsman County and other rural communities, where service-sector jobs and program-based employment provide income, social connection and routine for older adults. Local restaurants, thrift stores and nonprofit partners regularly depend on experienced, part-time staff to maintain operations that serve customers and clients across age groups. Sam’s long-running presence at multiple businesses and community organizations made her a familiar face to many residents who patronized those establishments over the years.

For neighbors who fondly remember her, Sam’s passing is a reminder of the role older workers play in the social and economic fabric of Jamestown. Her scheduled memorial and spring burial will give family, friends and former co-workers opportunities to pay respects and acknowledge the practical and personal contributions she made to the community.