Dorothy Smith

Dorothy Smith, 94, Fargo, ND passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2015 at Sanford Palliative Care in Fargo. Dorothy Elizabeth (Kohler) Smith was born February 17, 1921 in Grand Forks, ND to Edward and Grace (Schornack) Kohler. They moved to Fargo, ND when she started school and she graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1940. After graduation she worked at F.W. Woolworths. She met the love of her life, Warren (Jim) Smith when she went roller skating. They were married May 23, 1943 in Waco, TX where Warren was briefly stationed with the USAF during World War II. When he went overseas, Dorothy moved back to Fargo where their son, James was born. Warren’s aircraft was shot down over Austria and he became a German POW. Dorothy had returned to work at Woolworths and the store put a stand in front of the store on Broadway. They put a picture of Warren with all his medals in the window of the store and she sold War Bonds from a table in front of the store. After Warren was discharged they made their home in Fargo. Dorothy returned to work in 1956 at Black’s Store Without a Name as bridal consultant and worked in ready-to-wear. In 1958 she went to work for the Division of Independent Study at NDSU as manager of the bookstore. She retired in Dec., 1982 after 29 years of working there. She was a member of the American League Auxiliary for over 52 years. She was also on a bowling league for about 10 years. Dorothy loved life.   She loved to dance, fish and travel. The most fun she had traveling was when she and Warren spent time in Hawaii and when they took their grandchildren to Disneyland and Disney World. It was really important to Dorothy to spend time with family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Warren and her parents, Edward and Grace Kohler. Dorothy is survived by her son, James Edward (Diane), West Des Moines, IA; her grandson, Shawn James (Amy) Smith, Waukee IA; her granddaughter, Karin Marie (Justin) Vomacka, West Des Moines, IA; her great-granddaughter, Teller Warren Vomacka; her great-grandson, Dempsey Årdal Vomacka; and her step-great-granddaughter, Bailey Rae Johnson, Waukee, IA. Her family would like to thank the care given to her on the TCU floor at Bethany on 42^nd and the Sanford Hospital Palliative Care interdisciplinary team for providing the attentive care given during her last days. There will be a private funeral for just family and relatives on Thursday, July 2, 2015 at 2pm at Boulger Funeral Home. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Fargo, ND. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery, Mandan, ND.