Dorothy Elmire (Krueger) Dalke |
| Posted 2008-07-26 by Judy Wight Branson |
| Dorothy Elmire (Krueger) Dalke Dorothy Elmire Dalke, age 94, died on Jan. 14, 2005, at the Margaret T. Morris Center in Prescott. Dorothy was born March 16, 1910, in Tracy, Minn., the daughter of Emil Joseph Krueger and Grace Smith. Her father was a farmer and grocer and her mother maintained the family home. Dorothy loved the outdoors and much to her mothers chagrin, found her father's horses and farm more enjoyable than the dresses and genteel ways of her mother. She was sent as a kindergartner to be educated by the nuns in Marshall, Minn., but she returned after only one year. An intelligent young woman, she graduated from high school in Tracy, in June of 1928. She taught school for two years near Tracy, after completing normal school. She met and fell in love with one of her brother's friends, Victor Lawrence Dalke. They loved to dance, ice skate, and visit with friends in the surrounding farm communities. They married on June 20, 1934, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tracy. They lived on the Krueger farm and she remembers feeding the hungry herds, flocks, and laborers. Even then, she was generous to many who came to her door throughout the Depression and after. She and Victor had three sons born in Tracy, Carter, Denis and Vincent. Dorothy suffered from arthritis and on the urging of her doctor they headed west to a little town called Prescott, where they established their home in 1942. While in Prescott, Dorothy gave birth to two daughters, Rita and Catherine. Not enough can be said about Dorothy?s love of her family, friends, and the great outdoors. She began to raise goats when both she and Rita needed goats milk. The goats, chickens, rabbits, pigs, cows, and geese shared the 'home place' at the south end of Shoup Street, with the Dalke children, friends from the neighborhood, classmates, nuns, and priests from St. Joseph's Academy, 4-Hers, Smoki members, Rod and Rifle women, fellow hikers and the young men and women who went through the Firearm Training courses that she taught over so many years. She was an accomplished seamstress, cook, hunter, mother, teacher, and friend. She gave willingly to others from her larder, her labor, her philosophy, her faith, and her knowledge. Her friends and family can never thank her enough for her patience and perseverance. In 1985, she and Victor moved to the desert south of Wickenburg, where they established a desert oasis. She loved the arid southwest and traveled it extensively. She never felt more alive than when hiking the Grand Canyon, Superstition Mountains, Baja, Bloody Basin, Burro Creek, Mazatzal Wilderness Area, the San Juan River or just stepping gingerly across her property in Prescott, Wickenburg, or Apache Junction, where she settled after Victor died in 1999, at the Arizona Pioneer's Home, in Prescott. In July of 2004, she moved to The Margaret T. Morris Center in Prescott, where she was greeted with open arms and enjoyed a life filled with activity and attention. She made many new friends and admirers for her spunky, soft-spoken ways. Her children and their spouses, Carter and Mary of Sun Valley, Nev., Denis and Sharon of Prescott, Vincent and Bonnylin of Prescott, Rita Crawford of Tempe, and Cathie Hartin of Apache Junction; along with sixteen grandchildren and nineteen great grandchildren survive Dorothy. She was an inspiration to us and we will always remember her at every sunrise and sunset. We know that she is guiding us to see what is just over the next hill. Funeral services for Dorothy were held on Jan. 17, 2005, at Sacred Heart Church in Prescott. The Mass was led by family friend, Father, Pat Mower of Flagstaff. Private interment will be at the Arizona Pioneer's Cemetery. The family has asked that you make a donation to any group that cherishes the land she shared with all creatures great and small. Also, you may send a donation, in her memory, to the Margaret T. Morris Center, Memorial Garden. Services entrusted to Heritage Memory Mortuary. See Also: Find A Grave |
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