Former North Dakota Legislator Lois Delmore Dies at 76

Delmore served 24 years in the state House before retiring in 2018.

Mar. 20, 2026 at 6:44am

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Lois Delmore, a longtime former North Dakota state legislator, has died at the age of 76. Delmore, a native of Maddock, N.D., worked in the education sector for 40 years after receiving her bachelor's degree from the University of North Dakota. She served 24 years in the North Dakota House, retiring in 2018.

Why it matters

Delmore's passing marks the end of an era in North Dakota politics, as she was a respected and dedicated public servant who worked across the aisle during her tenure in the state legislature. Her death is a loss for the Grand Forks community, where she made a lasting impact.

The details

Delmore died on Wednesday at the Valley Senior Living Transitions Unit, though the cause of death was not included in her obituary. After retiring from teaching in 2012, she went on to serve 24 years in the North Dakota House, before stepping down in 2018.

  • Delmore died on Wednesday, March 20, 2026.
  • She retired from teaching in 2012 after 40 years in the education sector.
  • Delmore served 24 years in the North Dakota House, retiring in 2018.

The players

Lois Delmore

A longtime former North Dakota state legislator who served 24 years in the state House before retiring in 2018. She was a native of Maddock, N.D. and worked in the education sector for 40 years after receiving her bachelor's degree from the University of North Dakota.

Zac Ista

The House Minority Leader in the North Dakota legislature, who praised Delmore as a "dedicated public servant and champion for Grand Forks" who worked across the aisle to form partnerships and friendships.

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What they’re saying

“Lois Delmore was a dedicated public servant and champion for Grand Forks. I aspired to live up to her example of working across the aisle to form genuine partnerships and friendships. May she rest in peace and her family take comfort in the lasting impact she made for North Dakota.”

— Zac Ista, House Minority Leader

The takeaway

Delmore's long career in public service and her commitment to bipartisanship serve as a model for lawmakers in North Dakota and beyond, highlighting the importance of working across the aisle to achieve meaningful progress for constituents.