Dorothy Thiel, 94, of New Rockford, ND, died on Friday, March 3, 2017, at Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd, New Rockford.

Dorothy Marie Schmitz was born in Beach, ND, on July 1, 1922, to Hubert and Mary (Rezab) Schmitz, the fourth of six children. Dorothy grew up on a farm northwest of Golva, ND.  Living through the Depression taught her to appreciate all of life’s blessings.  Following graduation from Golva High School, Dorothy attended business college in Bismarck, ND.  She worked in the secretarial and bookkeeping field until her marriage to Marvin Thiel of Judson, ND, on May 3, 1948.

Marvin and Dorothy lived in Mandan, ND, until 1969, except for a short time spent on Marvin’s home farm.  Dorothy began working again in 1962 in various bookkeeping positions.  In 1968, they moved to Livingston, MT, where Marvin established his own wheel alignment and brake service business.  Dorothy was the bookkeeper for this business.  Upon Marvin’s retirement, she worked in the high school library before becoming the bookkeeper for St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Livingston. 

Dorothy enjoyed visiting with friends, playing cards, taking care of her flower beds and garden, and especially sewing.  She sewed many clothes for her children and herself.  She and Marvin enjoyed dancing and belonged to the Saddle Club in Livingston, which had dances once a month.  She was an excellent cook and baker, as attested to by her son-in-law who would often comment, “Why can’t you make chicken like your mother’s?”  

Marvin and Dorothy moved to New Rockford in 1990 to be near their daughter, Shirley, when Dorothy began losing her sight due to macular degeneration.

After Marvin’s death in 2000, Dorothy lived in her house for several years.  She volunteered a couple of days a week at the Eddy County Senior Center and was active in the Red Hat Society.  Eventually, she moved to the Heritage House Assisted Living Complex.  She enjoyed playing bingo and visiting with her neighbors.  Dorothy moved to Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd when her eyesight became too poor for her to take care of herself and spent the rest of her life there.  She enjoyed going to music presentations and enjoyed the camaraderie of her table mates and the cook in her dining area.

Dorothy was a member of the Catholic Daughters and the American Legion Auxiliary.  She spent time as a Girl Scout leader and helped with other activities in which her children were involved.  She was very proud of her children and especially enjoyed being a grandmother and great-grandmother.  She is missed by many people.

Dorothy is survived by her daughter, Shirley (Rodney) Lindstrom, New Rockford; sons, Sidney (Lisa) Thiel, Sherwood, OR,  and David (Kim) Thiel, Las Vegas, NV; 6 grandchildren: Sarah (Brian) Nelson, John (Rachel) Lindstrom, Charles Lindstrom, Bryan (Stephanie) Thiel, Brandon Thiel, and Alex Thiel; 7 great-grandchildren: Owen Lindstrom, Olivia Lindstrom, Nora Lindstrom, Carson Thiel, Sawyer Thiel, Sadie Nelson, Danik Nelson; sister-in-law, Dorothy Schmitz, and many nieces and nephews.

Dorothy is preceded in death by her husband, Marvin, son, Bruce, brother and sister-in-law, Clarence and Polly Schmitz, sister and brother-in-law, Leona and Leo Holzemer, sister and brother-in-law, Edith and Raymond Fasching, brother and sister-in-law, Louis and Sylvia Schmitz, brother, Alvin Schmitz, and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Doris and Harold Held.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. John’s Catholic Church or Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd, both of New Rockford.

ROSARY AND PRAYER SERVICE:

Thursday, St. John's Catholic Church, New Rockford, Rosary at 6:30PM and Vigil Service at 7PM

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL:

St. John's Catholic Church, New Rockford, ND

DATE AND TIME:

Friday, March 10, 2017 at 10:30AM

BURIAL:

Mandan Union Cemetery, Mandan, ND, at 11AM on Saturday, March 11th