Dorothy Powell, 86, of Wessington Springs passed away early Tuesday morning April 11, 2023 at the Weskota Manor Avera Nursing Home. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Monday April 17, 2023 at the United Methodist Church in Wessington Springs. Visitation was Sunday April 16 from 2-4 at the United Methodist Church with an Eastern Star service at 3:30 followed by a prayer service.
Dorothy Doering Powell, daughter of Charles and Laurinda (Ocean) Doering was born July 1, 1936, on the farm located in Aurora County. She attended rural grade school until the 6th grade, graduating from 8th grade in Plankinton, South Dakota. She attended high school at Wessington Springs High School graduating in 1954. She worked as a bookkeeper at Habicht’s Department Store following high school graduation.
On September 4, 1955, Dorothy was united in marriage with Roland Powell in Wessington Springs. Following her marriage to Roland, she was a stay-athome housewife, mother and like she used to say “chief cook and bottle washer” until she began working at Weskota Manor Avera Nursing home in July 1975 as an aide in the kitchen. She became Dietary Supervisor in 1985.
Also in 1985, Dorothy decided to take the Emergency Medical Technician course to become an EMT. She proudly served as a volunteer EMT for Jerauld County Ambulance until retiring in 2001. In June of 2003, Dorothy retired from Weskota Manor. In October of 1987 Roland was killed in a farm accident and Dorothy decided to move the family home into the city of Wessington Springs where she resided in until November of 2018 when she became a resident of the Manor. Dorothy was a 50+ year member of the Wessington Springs United Methodist Church, a 50+ year member of the Order of the Eastern Star and American Legion Auxiliary. She was also a member of the Happy Homemakers Extension Club until it disbanded. Dorothy and Roland also helped form a card playing club with area neighbors where they would get together once a month to play pitch at each other’s house and gossip and have a gay old time. This was something that she continued after Roland passed away as long as she was able.
Dorothy is survived by her children Richard (Ellen) Powell, Donald (Debra) Powell, Sandy (Robert)Brown, Linda (Randy) Willman, and Jennifer (Keith) Wetzel. She is also survived by her 13 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, one sisterin- law Maggie Doering, and many nieces and nephews.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Roland, sisters and brothers-in-law Violet (Jake) Stam, Ruby (Buford) Gray, brothers and sister in laws Ralph (Henrietta), Orville (Evelyn), Marvin, and daughters Janet (1957), Denise and Diane (1958) and Sara (1971).
