Dorothy Jean Van Hoorn, 63, of Estelline, died Monday, April 16, 2018, at her home surrounded by her family.
Memorial services are at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Grace Lutheran Church in Nunda. Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Rude’s Funeral Home in Brookings.
Dorothy was born on April 16, 1955, to Richard and Frances (Youell) Johnson in Volga. She grew up on the family farm four miles south of Lake Campbell and attended country school. In the ninth grade she began high school in Rutland and graduated in 1973.
After getting her associate’s degree from Watertown Business University, she got her first job in Sioux Falls, before moving back to Brookings to work at 3M.
She met James Van Hoorn in 1977 and they were married on Sept. 30, 1978, in Nunda. They made their home in Aurora and were loving and devoted parents to two daughters, Jena and Kristin.
When Jena was little she worked at SDSU, but after Kristin arrived she ran an in-home daycare where she raised the girls and watched the neighborhood kids as well. From 1990-1991, she and Jim took to driving semi as a team for Eaton Dakota going from Flandreau to Ohio weekly.
She never missed one of the girls’ events: from basketball, volleyball, track, music and band performances. She loved to shop, especially when the deals, clearance or coupons, were good.
Dorothy loved and always showed her pride for her final employer, Larson Manufacturing, in Brookings. From the friends that became family and the hard work she did, she would not have chosen a different place to work. She retired after 26 years of service on Sept. 28, 2017, which naturally, was self-proclaimed, “Dorothy Day!”
They enjoyed spending weekends camping at Lake Hendricks, when the girls were little. Eventually they purchased at Lake Poinsett in 1998, and in 2002, they moved from Aurora to their permanent home on that property. She enjoyed having company and was the “Hostess with the Mostest” for every occasion you could imagine. She would bring treats to work and make everyone’s favorites on their special days.
She was blessed to be the best grandma to Cadynce, Hartley, and Tobin. She enjoyed going to their schools and helping in class, going to their programs and events, and of course, spoiling them. Every visit to their house ended with a special surprise or activity and great memories were always made.
Dorothy refused to let cancer stop her from living. She continued to work her very hard job and keep up at home while going through her multiple treatments. “I Refuse To Sink” became her motto, and it was perfect.
Survivors include her husband, James; two daughters, Jena (Mike) German of Aberdeen and Kristin (Justin) Wittmayer of Sioux Falls; three grandchildren; two sisters, Lori (Jeff) Rice of Brookings and Terri Douglas of Brandon; one brother, Todd (Robin) Johnson of Colman and a host of brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Frances; her father and mother-in-law, Siebe and Evelyn Van Hoorn and one brother-in-law, Ronald Van Hoorn Sr.
Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.
