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Skelton, Dorothy (1917-2015)

SKELTON, STEPHENSON, ALBRIGHT, PETERSON, BRAZDA, GREEN, ANDERSON, GUSTINE, NELSON, RABY, WALDEN

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 11/15/2015 at 13:53:46

Dorothy Skelton
February 5, 1917 - October 21, 2015

Dorothy Marie Skelton, 98, completed her life on October 21, 2015, at Brendan House in Kalispell, Montana, after a brief illness.

Born on February 5, 1917, to Minnie Grace Albright Stephenson in Webb, Iowa, Dorothy lived her younger years in Spencer, Iowa, but spent her summers in Webb, Iowa, with her beloved grandparents, George and Anne Albright. As a youth, she loved roller skating and attending the youth group at the Baptist Church in Webb, Iowa. During her school years, she was known as Dot in reference to her diminutive size. She graduated from the Webb High School May 28, 1936.

Dorothy met her future husband, Raymond Skelton, at the Baptist Church in Webb, Iowa. She, frequently, recalled their first date with pleasure as Ray had escorted her to a church youth activity in a horse drawn sleigh. At other times, she talked about double dating with the ladies riding in the rumble seat of Ray’s fathers’ car. She and Ray married on January 27, 1939, in Chillicothe, Missouri, with her beloved cousin, Arlene, as her bridesmaid. They were married fifty-one years before his passing in 1990.

During the earlier years of their marriage, Dorothy and Ray farmed in northwest Iowa. Four of their children were born during this time, Donald Ray, Margaret Ann, Dale Allen and Jean Marie. Then, they spent many of the subsequent years in Albert Lea, Minnesota, since Ray worked for Mays Electrical Engineering Labs. During this time, Dorothy baked all the bread and tended a large garden for her children who did not appreciate supermarket food. In Albert Lea, they completed their family with the addition of Janice Kay. In later years, Dorothy worked as a bookkeeper while Ray managed the same motel in Rochester, Minnesota. Always a good student, she enjoyed the challenge of the bookkeeping process.

Dorothy’s greatest joy came from her children and family life. She enjoyed the ladies church clubs and the Eastern Star where she was a proud member for fifty-four years.

Dorothy eventually moved to Kalispell, Montana, to be nearer her family. She was very proud to reside in her own apartment until she reached 98 years of age.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her mother, Minnie Stephenson; her husband, Raymond Skelton; her son, Donald Skelton; her daughter, Jean Peterson; and her beloved brothers and sisters-in-law.

Dorothy is survived by her daughters, Janice (Larry) Brazda and Margaret (Charles) Green; her son, Dale Skelton; her son in-law, Lee Peterson; and her grandchildren, Shari (Todd) Anderson; Chris and Laura Brazda; Kim Gustine; Michele (Chris) Nelson; Adam (Natalie), Paul (Courtney), and Scott (Angie) Peterson; Mindi (Eric) Raby; Mark and Michael (Missy) Skelton; and Melissa Walden; as well as by eighteen great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Brendan House for the excellent care they administered with loving hands.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 30, 2015, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids, Iowa. Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 31, 2015, at 10:00 AM at the First United Church of Sioux Rapids, Iowa, with interment following at the Poland Township Cemetery in Marathon, Iowa.

Copyright © 2015, Sliefert Funeral Homes


 

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