Dorothy Smith

Smith, Dorothy L. 92, formerly of south Minneapolis and Spring Park, died August 26, 2011, at Presbyterian Homes in Bloomington after a long and happy life. For 42 years she lived near Lake Nokomis in south Minneapolis, where she and her husband, Doug, raised their three children. In 1993, they moved to Presbyterian Homes on Lake Minnetonka in Spring Park, where she loved to look out over the lake. In her last few years, suffering from dementia that robbed her of her short-term memory but not her sense of humor or dignity, she lived at the memory care unit of Presbyterian Homes in Bloomington. Dorothy was born Feb. 24, 1919 in Minneapolis to Emma and Frank Kaltenbach, and grew up on Oakland Av. S. She attended Bryant Junior High and Central High School, and stayed in touch with school friends throughout her life. After graduating from high school, she worked at Dayton's in downtown Minneapolis and later as a nurse's aide. She met her future husband in 1939, and she and Doug married on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, 1942 at Holy Name Catholic Church in south Minneapolis. A job transfer sent them to Keokuk, Iowa, for nearly five years, before they moved back to Minneapolis. She and Doug were long-time members of the former Resurrection Catholic Church. Dorothy was an avid and proficient bowler, scoring over 600 several times and traveling around the country for tournaments. She also was an excellent angler, often out-fishing her husband, much to his chagrin. Her favorite lure: A red-eyed spoon. She loved going to the Brainerd-lakes area for summer vacations, and recalled fondly going fishing to "the lake'' even as a child. She passed on her love of the outdoors to her children and grandchildren. Later in retirement, she and Doug realized a lifelong dream and bought a lake cabin near Hackensack, Minn., where they loved to fish, listen to the loons, watch deer and dance to "Big Band" music at local supper clubs. For years they wintered at Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Dorothy and Doug celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1992. As Dorothy's cognitive abilities declined, she moved into care facilities at Presbyterian Homes in Spring Park and Bloomington. Through it all, she never lost her sense of humor. When asked "How do you feel?'' she'd inevitably answer: "With both hands.'' She outlived most of her friends and relatives. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, who died in 1997, three sisters, Frances Field, Marion Kromenaker and Jeanette Tigue, a brother, John Kaltenbach, and numerous other relatives. She also was preceded in death by special friend Ed Lehman, who brought great joy to her late in life. Sincere thanks to the nurses, aides and other staff at Presbyterian Homes and HealthPartners who gave such wonderful, loving care to Dorothy and made her final years comfortable. She is survived by daughter Dorothy Vansteenburg; sons Doug (Mary Lynn) and Rick (Patty) Smith; eight grandchildren Peter, Kristina, Ryan, Adam, Kari, Kelly, Lindsay and Megan; and five great-grandchildren, Jacob, Lucas, Clara, Isabelle and Cooper. She adored them all and was so proud of each of them. She's also survived by many nieces and nephews. She'll be deeply missed. Visitation 10 a.m. Wednesday, services following at 11 a.m. at Washburn-McReavy Werness Brothers Bloomington Chapel, 2300 W. Old Shakopee Rd., Bloomington. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Alzheimer's Association preferred.

Tributes

Dorothy Smith

August 29, 2011

Tributes

Dorothy Smith

August 29, 2011

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