Dorothy Lucille Smith

Mrs. Smith, 93, of Wellington Place in Decorah, IA, formerly of Meadow Lakes in Rochester, MN, died Monday (September 19, 2016) at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN.

The funeral for Dorothy will be at 11:00am Thursday, September 22, 2016 at River Park Chapel, Macken Funeral Home in Rochester with Pastor Lester Horntvedt officiating. Visitation will be held from 10:00am to 11:00am (one hour prior to the service) at River Park Chapel, Macken Funeral Home.

Dorothy was born September 3, 1923 in Britt, IA to Erwin and Esther Escher. She graduated from Chippewa Falls High School in 1941. On November 3, 1942, she married Jack William Smith in Cornell, WI. After WWII ended, they made a life for themselves in and around Minnesota and Wisconsin, living in Cornell, New Brighton, and Mounds View, raising their family, hunting, and fishing.

They built a home for their retirement on Fish Lake in Siren, Wisconsin. Their home at "The Lake" became a central gathering place for the family and they created many memories there. After her husband Jack passed away in 1978, she lived there until 2009 while spending the winters as a snow-bird in McAllen, Texas, where she loved to square dance, bead, hold garage sales, decorate her home for Christmas, and search Ropa to find the best clothes. In Siren, she tended her flowers and garden, loved to cook and bake (Riddle Soup and Ting-a-lings were family favorites), and was very active in her Church. She was president of the United Methodist Women's group, active in the choir, and loved to read stories and poems for the congregation.

For the past seven years, she lived at Meadow Lakes in Rochester. Dorothy loved keeping up with all of her family on her GrandPad, listening to her music, baking bread, and playing games like Rummikub, Hand and Foot, and Wii Bowling…and loved winning!

She was kind and fearless. She was always dressed like a lady with her hair and makeup done and earrings on, but not afraid to grab a rifle to keep the Blue Jays out of the squirrel feeder. She loved her family very much and her family loved her.

Survivors include a daughter, Vivian Howard (Jeff) of Magnolia, TX, and three sons, Gary Smith (Sandy) of Siren, WI, Darrel Smith of Rochester, MN, and Terry Smith of Surprise, AZ; six grandchildren: Chris Howard (Jill) of Houston, TX, Tim Howard (Lana) of Fort Myers, FL, Bryan Howard (Stacy) of Houston, TX, Dawn Sanderman (Jeff) of Decorah, IA, Cameron Smith (Tamra) of Webster, WI, and Megan Clyne (Joshua) of Glendale, AZ; twenty-three great grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; a sister, Iona Guthman (Carlie) of Bruce, WI, and a brother Kenneth Escher (Betty) of Eau Claire, WI. She is preceded in death by her husband, Jack; her parents, two brothers; and two grandchildren.

Macken Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.  Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com