Dorothy’s Obituary Funeral Services for Dorothy Gatz will be conducted 10:30 AM Thursday, May 2, 2019 at the Highland Lutheran Church in Outlook, Montana with Pastor Johnette Grefe officiating. Interment will follow at the Highland (Outlook) Cemetery. Dorothy Gatz, 86, of Outlook, MT, passed away in the presence of family on April 25 2019 at Sheridan Memorial Hospital.
Dorothy was born to parents Walter Westergard and Elda Glauvitz Westergard, on July 30, 1932 in Belgrade, MN. She graduated from Belgrade High School in 1950 then went on to study at the Fairview School of Nursing in Minneapolis where she graduated with a degree in nursing in 1953. Dorothy worked as a Registered Nurse for 50+ years and retired from Sheridan Memorial Hospital in 2009.
Dorothy met Marlyn Gatz while they were still in high school. They were married on August 31, 1952 in Belgrade MN. Together they raised 4 children: Clarice, Kirby, Cheryl and Carmen.
Throughout her life Dorothy pursued many interests. She enjoyed gardening and did a great deal of canning and preserving. She and Marlyn enjoyed music and dancing throughout their marriage.
She also did a lot of sewing and many new babies found themselves wrapped in one of her flannel blankets. She then turned to quilting in later years which she really enjoyed. She often crocheted and recently spent most of her evenings either crocheting dishcloths with her daughter Clarice or playing cards and doing word puzzles with her grand-daughter Susan.
She didn’t watch a lot of television but seldom missed tractor pulls, Joey and Rory and Dancing With the Stars. Once moving to the nursing home she participated in many activities and discovered a new passion, BINGO! , that she played at every opportunity, even while hospitalized she had to go back over and play.
She is survived by her children: Clarice Thompson, Kirby (Gail) Gatz, Cheryl (Galen) Harshbarger, Carmen (Gary) Woodyard. Grandchildren: Ron (Jody) Thompson, Susan Thompson, Amie (Bryan) Logan, Rory (Jodi) Harshbarger, Jamie (Linsey) Holbrook, Karin Woodyard. Great-Grandchildren: Michelle (Cody) Acosta, Rachel Thompson, Emma, Hannah, Micah and Isaiah Logan, Christian Combs and Cameron Harshbarger, Carys and Lachlan Holbrook.
Great great grandchildren: Boden and Lukas Acosta and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Marlyn Gatz, sister, Margaret Jensen, and son-in-law, Eddie Thompson. Arrangements are being handled by Fulkerson Funeral Home.
Her funeral service is scheduled for Thursday May 2nd 10:30am at Highland Lutheran Church in Outlook MT. Johnette Grefe will officiate the ceremony. Dorothy will be laid to rest in Highland Cemetery beside Marlyn, her husband of 65 years.
A reception will follow at the Outlook Community Center. Memorials may be given in Dorothy’s name to Sheridan Memorial Nursing Home Activities Department or the charity of your choice.
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