IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Dorothy Jean
Johnson
September 7, 1933 – February 4, 2017
Obituary
Dorothy Jean Johnson was born September 7, 1933 to Harvey and Esther(Carlson) Benter at their home in rural Lucas, SD. She attended rural school in Lucas and high school in Burke. While attending high school she boarded and worked at the Burke Hotel. Dorothy then met Raymond Arthur Johnson, the love of her life. They married on October 18, 1952. To this union four sons were born; Ronnie Lee, Randy Ray, Rodney Arthur, and Richard James. After the loss of her mother in 1956, her youngest brother James, age 12, moved in with them. He lived with them until he graduated from high school.
Many trips were taken by Ray and Dorothy- Chicago, California several times and of course the beloved Black Hills of South Dakota. They also loved to go camping and fishing. The cabin in the Black Hills they owned was the site of many memorable vacations for the family and friends.
For a period of time Ray and Dorothy had a passion for collecting antiques. Dorothy also took time to make craft items and attend craft fairs to sell her creations. Camping was something she really loved. She would cook for days to make sure she had enough food to take along to feed whoever showed up. She also loved to fish and passed that on to her grandkids. Mindie and Tina spent many weekends at the river with them. Her love for animals was also strong. She had her little dog Nutmeg. Then they were in the Black Hills and called to say they had brought home a tom cat for Tina and Mindie. Well that 'Tom Cat' was a Sally not a Sam so she had to keep her. She loved that cat. Then the many phone calls from Tina begging to bring home a puppy from the Hills that the neighbors at the cabin had saved for her. Remember this was before cell phones so Grandma Dorothy was helping her call. That is how we got StacyMae!
Lately she just loved it when Buddy or Missy would come to visit. She would also feed the stray cats and neighbors dogs if they came around.
Dorothy loved her family unconditionally. You always felt welcome at her house (unless it was time for her treadmill walk- then she was short on talk)! She was always trying to feed you when you visited. Cookies, bars, ice cream..it didn't seem to matter what time of day it was, she thought you should eat something. Jennifer spent many hours at Grandmas house and loved to go fishing with Grandma and Hot Rod. Jennifer said the first time she ran away from home it was to Grandma's (her best friend). Levi loved to stop and visit with Grandma Dorothy and play a game or so of cards (had to keep an eye on her though!). She always commented what a nice boy he was to stop and spend time with her.. And oh how she loved to watch Daniel, Madison, Bobbi Jo and Lainee shoot hoops on her driveway! She would always say how much she loved watching even if they didn't have time to come and say hi! She love it when the kids would come play cards and games with her, make her famous popcorn balls for halloween, and bake cookies for Christmas. They just had to watch so she didn't cheat on the games. She kept them on their toes!
She was also "Grandma Dorothy" to many of Julie's day care kids. She used to help out when needed and just about didn't have a lap big enough for the "daycare grandkids"!
She spent most of her life giving to her family—raising her four sons (and most of the neighborhood kids)!
For some time Dorothy went to the " Hill" to play the penny machine until her health would no longer allow it. I really think she liked the card games with her friends on the Silver Fox Shuttle more than anything!
As of lately she was very adamant that we report the score of the game whether it be basketball, rodeo, or softball, whatever sport the grandkids were participating in! Her
cell phone was a good thing for her. She loved using the speaker feature so she could hear better! Dang that loss of hearing!!
Dorothy was a strong woman. Ray passed away when she was only 52. She fought many health issues in her life, surviving cancer twice. More than once we were given the "end of life talk" only to have her pull through! Gotta love her for that!! She could be quite stubborn at times, we did not talk politics. It was most likely that stubbornness that pulled her through many hard times.
Being ever so grateful for sharing her life are her sons Ronnie (Julie), Randy (Sheila), and Rick (Pam). Grandchildren Mindie (Craig) Wischmann, Tina (Kiley) Schonebaum, Joe Johnson, Jennifer (Cory) Peterson, Daniel Johnson, Meridith (Jesse) Wilkens. . Great Grandchildren Levi & Lainee Schonebaum, Madison & Bobbi Jo Wischmann, Hunter Peterson, Shane, Derek, & Riley Johnson, and Henry & Dylan Wilkens. Her brother James (Joyce) Benter and many nieces and nephews. Her furry friends Buddy and Missy.
Dorothy also had a group of Angels that took very good care of her. Her 'Deb' and Dr. Smith and the nurses that watched over her at the Community Memorial Hospital. Also Mark and Nancy that made sure she got to see the river one more time and get her back home to Burke.
Dorothy was preceded in death by the love of her life Ray, her son Rodney (AKA Hot Rod or BooBoo), her parents Harvey and Esther Benter, her brothers Howard and Don, Sisters Nellie Romo and Linda Heying. Sisters in law Ruth Benter and Darlene Benter. Brothers in law Harold Romo and Buster Heying.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 10, 2017 at 10:30 AM at Clausen Funeral Home in Burke, SD. Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery, Burke. There will be a prayer service on Thursday at 7:00 PM at the funeral home. Visitation will be one hour prior to both of the services at the funeral home.
Many trips were taken by Ray and Dorothy- Chicago, California several times and of course the beloved Black Hills of South Dakota. They also loved to go camping and fishing. The cabin in the Black Hills they owned was the site of many memorable vacations for the family and friends.
For a period of time Ray and Dorothy had a passion for collecting antiques. Dorothy also took time to make craft items and attend craft fairs to sell her creations. Camping was something she really loved. She would cook for days to make sure she had enough food to take along to feed whoever showed up. She also loved to fish and passed that on to her grandkids. Mindie and Tina spent many weekends at the river with them. Her love for animals was also strong. She had her little dog Nutmeg. Then they were in the Black Hills and called to say they had brought home a tom cat for Tina and Mindie. Well that 'Tom Cat' was a Sally not a Sam so she had to keep her. She loved that cat. Then the many phone calls from Tina begging to bring home a puppy from the Hills that the neighbors at the cabin had saved for her. Remember this was before cell phones so Grandma Dorothy was helping her call. That is how we got StacyMae!
Lately she just loved it when Buddy or Missy would come to visit. She would also feed the stray cats and neighbors dogs if they came around.
Dorothy loved her family unconditionally. You always felt welcome at her house (unless it was time for her treadmill walk- then she was short on talk)! She was always trying to feed you when you visited. Cookies, bars, ice cream..it didn't seem to matter what time of day it was, she thought you should eat something. Jennifer spent many hours at Grandmas house and loved to go fishing with Grandma and Hot Rod. Jennifer said the first time she ran away from home it was to Grandma's (her best friend). Levi loved to stop and visit with Grandma Dorothy and play a game or so of cards (had to keep an eye on her though!). She always commented what a nice boy he was to stop and spend time with her.. And oh how she loved to watch Daniel, Madison, Bobbi Jo and Lainee shoot hoops on her driveway! She would always say how much she loved watching even if they didn't have time to come and say hi! She love it when the kids would come play cards and games with her, make her famous popcorn balls for halloween, and bake cookies for Christmas. They just had to watch so she didn't cheat on the games. She kept them on their toes!
She was also "Grandma Dorothy" to many of Julie's day care kids. She used to help out when needed and just about didn't have a lap big enough for the "daycare grandkids"!
She spent most of her life giving to her family—raising her four sons (and most of the neighborhood kids)!
For some time Dorothy went to the " Hill" to play the penny machine until her health would no longer allow it. I really think she liked the card games with her friends on the Silver Fox Shuttle more than anything!
As of lately she was very adamant that we report the score of the game whether it be basketball, rodeo, or softball, whatever sport the grandkids were participating in! Her
cell phone was a good thing for her. She loved using the speaker feature so she could hear better! Dang that loss of hearing!!
Dorothy was a strong woman. Ray passed away when she was only 52. She fought many health issues in her life, surviving cancer twice. More than once we were given the "end of life talk" only to have her pull through! Gotta love her for that!! She could be quite stubborn at times, we did not talk politics. It was most likely that stubbornness that pulled her through many hard times.
Being ever so grateful for sharing her life are her sons Ronnie (Julie), Randy (Sheila), and Rick (Pam). Grandchildren Mindie (Craig) Wischmann, Tina (Kiley) Schonebaum, Joe Johnson, Jennifer (Cory) Peterson, Daniel Johnson, Meridith (Jesse) Wilkens. . Great Grandchildren Levi & Lainee Schonebaum, Madison & Bobbi Jo Wischmann, Hunter Peterson, Shane, Derek, & Riley Johnson, and Henry & Dylan Wilkens. Her brother James (Joyce) Benter and many nieces and nephews. Her furry friends Buddy and Missy.
Dorothy also had a group of Angels that took very good care of her. Her 'Deb' and Dr. Smith and the nurses that watched over her at the Community Memorial Hospital. Also Mark and Nancy that made sure she got to see the river one more time and get her back home to Burke.
Dorothy was preceded in death by the love of her life Ray, her son Rodney (AKA Hot Rod or BooBoo), her parents Harvey and Esther Benter, her brothers Howard and Don, Sisters Nellie Romo and Linda Heying. Sisters in law Ruth Benter and Darlene Benter. Brothers in law Harold Romo and Buster Heying.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 10, 2017 at 10:30 AM at Clausen Funeral Home in Burke, SD. Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery, Burke. There will be a prayer service on Thursday at 7:00 PM at the funeral home. Visitation will be one hour prior to both of the services at the funeral home.
To order memorial trees in memory of Dorothy Jean Johnson, please visit our tree store.
Services
Funeral Service
February
10
Clausen Funeral Home
Starts at 10:30 am
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