Dorothy Ann (Husher) Thompson passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, after a brief illness.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23, at Rude’s Funeral Home in Brookings, SD. Dorothy‘s funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, at Midway Lutheran Church in rural Flandreau, SD. Rude’s Funeral Home will livestream the service on its Facebook page.
Dorothy was born in the hospital in Webster, South Dakota, to Joseph and Naomi (Stime) Husher on June 22, 1932. Dorothy was brought home from the hospital to her family’s farm near Lily, SD. When Dorothy was 5 years old, her family moved to a farm near Sinai, SD, where she lived for the rest of her childhood. Those who knew Dorothy when she was younger often called her by her childhood nicknames of Dotty or Dot.
Dorothy attended school in Sinai and graduated from Sinai High School in 1950. After graduation, Dorothy moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to attend the Lutheran Bible Institute. During her years in the Twin Cities area, she also worked for Macy’s and for a bank.
One summer night when Dorothy was back home from Minneapolis visiting her family, she met Maynard Thompson of Colman, South Dakota, at the Lake Campbell roller-skating rink. Dorothy and Maynard were married on May 27, 1961, at the Sinai Lutheran Church in Sinai. They were blessed with three children (Kevin, Steven and Jodi).
For many years, Maynard and Dorothy farmed north of Colman. Dorothy enjoyed her years working in the Moody County Courthouse and later at Dakota Rural Action. Dorothy was a member of Sinai Lutheran Church until she was married, when she then became a member of Midway Lutheran Church. Dorothy was a devoted Christian and active in her church. Dorothy rarely missed a Sunday church service. When she could not make it to a church service she almost always either watched or listened to one. For many years Dorothy and her older sister and younger brother enjoyed singing together as a trio in church while their mother played the piano.
Dorothy was an avid reader who always had at least one book going and she often read at least two, sometimes three, newspapers a day.
Dorothy also enjoyed spending her free time doing jigsaw puzzles, word puzzles, listening to music, watching game shows and spending time with friends and family, often over coffee, dessert and/or a meal. Dorothy kept a daily diary for almost her entire life.
Grateful for having shared her life are her son Kevin (Mary) of Sioux Falls, her son Steven (Sonia) of Brighton, CO, her daughter Jodi (Dennis) Fryer of Brookings, two grandsons (Ben Smidt and his wife Brianna of Brookings and Dylan Thompson and his wife Heather of Greeley, CO), four great-grandchildren (Aubree, Abby, Hunter and Mason), her brother Allan (Dorothy) Husher of Sinai, her brother-in-law Wayne (Lois) of Brookings, her sisters-in-law Barb Thompson and Audrey Thompson both of Brookings, her aunt-in-law Clarice Elverud of Brookings and a number of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband (in November 2020), her sister and brother-in-law Pat and Truell Seashore, her brothers-in-law Dale Thompson and Verle Thompson along with a number of extended family and close friends.
Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.