Dorothy Stickler, age 94, of Rapid City, South Dakota, formerly of Philip, died on Friday, July 19, 2024 at the Avantara Arrowhead Rehabilitation Center in Rapid City.
Graveside service will be held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 23, at the Black Hills National Cemetery.
Arrangements are with the Rush Funeral Home of Philip.
Dorothy Richards was born on January 28, 1930, at Okaton, South Dakota, the daughter of John and Maggie (Murer) Richards. She moved from the family farm into Midland and lived with her grandfather while she attended and graduated high school.
Dorothy was united in marriage to Harold “Bud” Stickler on October 21, 1951. They made their home in the surrounding area until Bud was drafted and stationed in Texas. After he was discharged from the Army, they moved back to South Dakota and worked on several ranches in the Belvidere and Kadoka area. In August of 1957 they welcomed their son Steven into the family. They moved to Kansas where their daughter Janice was born in 1960. They returned to South Dakota and made their home in Philip where they remained until Bud passed in 2016. In 2019, Dorothy decided to move to Rapid City to be closer to family.
Dorothy was a stay-at-home mom who kept busy cleaning the Presbyterian Church and several houses in Philip. She began janitorial service in the Philip School District in the early 70’s. She later worked at the Star Drive Inn and the Park Inn Cafe as a cook. After retiring from there she began a daycare service. She and Bud loved children and welcomed many into their home throughout the next 20+ years. In her “spare” time she sewed and mowed lawns for several people in the area. She continued to be active well into her 70’s. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Philip.
Blessed to be called her family are her son Steven and his wife Tammy of Omaha, NE, her daughter Janice and husband Craig Heigh of Rapid City; granddaughters, Victoria Stickler of Bozeman MT, Stephanie Aanerud and her husband Alan, Brandea Morton and her husband Alex, Kara Moreno and her husband Tynnan, and Jennifer Stickler, all of Omaha, NE; grandsons Brennen Heigh and his wife Katie and Callan Heigh and his wife Rosemary of Rapid City; seven great-granddaughters, Savannah (Victoria) of Bozeman, MT, Jericha and Aleksi (Desiree’), Alyson, Emelia, (Brennen) of Rapid City, Anaiya (Desiree”) of Frederick CO and Kate (Stephanie) of Omaha, NE; seven great-grandsons, Reid (Stephanie), Avery, Jett, Miles, Beau (Brandea) Tylan, Silas (Kara) of Omaha; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband Harold, Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, John and Maggie; two sisters, Rose Elrod and Violet Volmer; four brothers, Billie, Jack, Dave, and Jim Richards; and granddaughter Desiree’ Heigh.
