Dorothy B. Crandall, 96, Dickinson, died Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at St. Luke’s Home, Dickinson. Dorothy’s Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m., Saturday, February 17, 2018 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Dickinson with Fr. Keith Streifel as celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Dickinson. Visitation will be Friday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. with the family present from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. to greet friends. There will be a rosary and vigil at 7 p.m., Friday.
Dorothy Beatrice Klein was born on November 6, 1921 to Anton and Catherine (Feltgen) Klein at Richardton. She was baptized and received the Sacraments at St. Mary’s Church. She attended St. Mary’s School and graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1938. She won awards for typing and shorthand for speed and accuracy. She was the youngest Freshman accepted at Dickinson State Teachers College. She spent two years taking business courses and later attended Capital Commercial College in Bismarck and was employed by Dakota Public Service (MDU).
In 1946, she was a charter member of the American Legion Auxiliary #180 and was Secretary for the organization in Richardton. On March 9, 1947 she became the bride of Lawrence G. Crandall and they made their home in Dickinson where Larry was Supervisor for the Sweetheart Bread Co. They were the parents of five children. She transferred her Auxiliary membership to the Dickinson unit of the American Legion. She was President of that unit three times. She arranged the first Oral Polio Vaccine Clinic in Dickinson. She was instrumental in obtaining several Spinoza Bears for disabled children in our area. As a 72 year member, she was the Chaplain of the local Unit.
In 1960, she was an Avon dealer and continued that for four and one half years. In 1966, she was employed as an admitting clerk at St. Joseph’s Hospital and retired in 1988.
Her trip to Luxembourg in 1978 had a lasting impact on her life as she got reacquainted with her mother’s brothers and families. In December 2009, she became a resident of Park Avenue Villa.
Here she spent her time doing crossword puzzles, playing whist, skip-bo, scrabble, bridge, bingo, playing the piano for the hymn in the dining room at noon. She was also an avid reader and did the readings at Mass at St. Luke’s. She loved crocheting which she learned in grade school.
In 2015, She was named “Woman of the Year” by the American Legion Auxiliary of Dickinson. It was her 70th year as a member. She was also honored by the Theodore R. Zech Post #180 at the state district meeting. She was the last charter member of that auxiliary.
Dorothy is survived by her five children; Dr. Theodore ( Michele) Crandall, Gibsonia, Pa., Dennis (Linda) Crandall, Peoria, Ariz., Jolene (Don) Groll, Bowman, Walter (Vicki) Crandall, Dickinson, Mary (Wayne) Adsero; grandchildren, Jennifer Stodgell, Michelle Crandall, Christine (Garett) Saeva, Katherine (Justin) Feagan, Ryan (Sarah) Groll, Jeremy (Nicole) Crandall, Keston Crandall, Andrea Crandall, Angela, Michael, Elizabeth, and Nathan Adsero; great-grandchildren, Coulter and Kieler Crandall, Andrew Saeva, Alayna Feagan, Carson and Molly Groll, Lillian and Evan Crandall.
She was a member of American Legion Auxiliary of Dickinson, St. Joseph’s Christian Mothers, St. Joseph’s Hospital Auxiliary and Sunset Senior Center. She was preceded in death by her husband, Larry, on March 9, 1998; her parents, her sister Josephine; her brother-in-law, Harold J. Schmidt.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pine Room Renovation at St. Joseph’s Church, Dickinson or Assumption Abbey, Richardton.
