Del Dutcher, 1939–2020

Harris A. (Del) Dutcher, Jr., 80, of Bartlesville, died on June 11, 2020, after a battle with cancer.

Del was born on July 17, 1939, in Hobart, Okla., to Harris A. Dutcher, Sr. and Louise (Sholl) Dutcher.

Del honorably served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps from 1957 to 1960. On December 29, 1964, he married Dona Beesley. They raised three children: Mike, Brandon, and Christy.

Del received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He worked for a few years in Tulsa as a banker, but Del was an outdoorsman at heart. (Though he had started on the basketball and baseball teams for the College High Wildcats, he didn’t play football because it interfered with hunting and fishing.) So he moved to Bartlesville, built more than 20 lakes and ponds, and began a decades-long career in commercial catfish farming.

Del is survived by his wife, Dona; his son Michael Dutcher of Bartlesville (married to Chris); his son Brandon Dutcher of Edmond, Okla. (married to Susie); and his daughter Christy McPhail of Bartlesville (married to Keith). He is also survived by his grandchildren: Andrew Dutcher, Jane Bartley, Betsy Dutcher, Lincoln Dutcher, Lillie Dutcher, Mary Margaret Dutcher, Jack Henry Dutcher, Oliver Dutcher, James Teague, Marybeth Patterson, Grace McPhail, Blake McPhail, Madison McPhail, and Parker McPhail. He is also survived by five great-grandchildren: Cohen, Evie, Easton, Jack, and Scottie.

Del is also survived by two brothers: Bill Dutcher of Norman, Okla., and Phil Dutcher of Tulsa. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his grandchildren Tyler Teague and Anne Marie Dutcher.


Del was widely admired in Bartlesville. He died on a Thursday night at 11:45; early the next morning this person paid a visit to our house. I'm not sure who you are, but thank you: 



Below is a video of Del's funeral service, held on June 17, 2020, at First Wesleyan Church.