Dorothy M. Lemmer

Dorothy M. Lemmer, a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, passed away at Life Care Center on Wednesday, May 18, 2005.

The Rev. Dennis Day will officiate the mass of Christian burial at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph's Church on Saturday, May 21, 2005. Interment will be at Pinecrest Cemetery.

Dorothy was born in 1910 in Bemidji, Minn., and along with her older sister and parents, migrated to northeastern Montana to the town of Glentana in 1912.

After two other sisters were born, her mother, Hattie Riede, died in 1918. Her father, Urban Riede, supported the family as a cook while Dorothy lived with family, friends and boarded at Catholic Sister's school.

Dorothy and her family moved to Bonners Ferry, Idaho, in 1927, where she graduated from high school in 1928.

She lived in Sandpoint for several years before moving to Billings, Mont., where she married Bill Lemmer in 1941. She later divorced, and with her son and daughter, moved back to Sandpoint. In 1949, she relocated with her children to Missoula, Mont., where she began work in the fiscal division of the Forest Service. Dorothy retired in 1975 and moved back to Sandpoint, where she stayed for 22 years.

In 1997, she moved to Mesa, Ariz., to be closer to her daughter. She returned to Missoula in 1999, and moved to The Bridge in Sandpoint in 2003.

Always quick with a wit and a smile, Dorothy enjoyed visiting with family and friends, doing the daily crossword, playing card games, shopping, musicals and song.

Dorothy is preceded in death by her parents Urban and Hattie Riede; three sisters — Iona Vincent, Carmen Irgens and Delores Kelly; her son Stephen (Judy Lemmer); and her daughter Eileen (Rick Woodcock).

She is survived by her grandsons, Brady and Ryan Woodcock, who were the love of her life. She is also survived by cousins Gladys Olson and family, Bill (Jenny) Taber and family, Marge (Gene) Chamberlain and family, Kay (Derwood) Johnson and family, niece Carolyn (Roger) Eidsness and family, and Paul (Joanne) Kelly and family.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the St. Joseph's Catholic Church building fund.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.