Dorathy L. Michalski

Mrs. Dorathy L. Michalski, age 85, rural Willow Lake, died this morning, Thursday, January 19, 2006 in a Watertown hospital after a brief illness. She was the widow of Sylvester "Sally" Michalski. Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 23, 2006 at 1:30 PM in the Presbyterian United Church at Willow Lake with the Reverend Richard Poppen officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Boniface Cemetery at Clark. Active casketbearers will be her grandchildren. Honorary casketbeaers are all of her friends and family. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 2-4 PM at the Furness Funeral Home at Clark and 1 hour preceding services Monday at the Church in Willow Lake. Dorathy LeVon Michalski was born in southwest Clark County, Hague Township, on June 7, 1920 the daughter of Elmer and Celia (Riter) Nogelmeier. She attended country school in Hague Township before moving to the Clear Lake area where they lived in a cook shack, tending to cattle, on the site of which is now known as the Crystal Springs Rodeo area. She attended and finished the 8th grade there. After that year, they returned to Hague Township and she worked in Willow Lake at Cook's Bakery. On October 8, 1939 she was united in marriage to Sylvester 'Sally' Michalski at the rectory of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Clark. They lived and farmed in the NE corner of Section 2 in Hague Township. In the fall of 1942 they moved to Lake Township to the 'Green Acre' farm site in Section 6. In 1945 they purchased the farm and in 1951 built their new home. She has continued living and working on the farm until Thursday. Her husband died on September 22, 1996. She was a member of the Presbyterian United Church in Willow Lake where she was very active in its Women's organization. Some of her favorite pastimes included playing cards, especially pinochle, fishing and hunting, even currently holding a valid South Dakota license. She will be long remembered for her baking and being the lady having 'The Magic Freezer'. Dorathy loved gardening and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Grateful for having shared in her life are her children, Phyllis Larson of Coon Rapids, MN, Rod Michalski and wife Rhonda of Willow Lake and Sally Jo Ingemunson and husbnd Greg of Rapid City; 6 grandchildren, Jim & DeeDee Larson, Dana & Julie Larson, Darin & Jessica Michalski, Tia Michalski, Misty Wise and Penie & Darold Homan and 12 great-grandchildren, Daniel, Megan, Austin, Katie, Richy, Izaak, Cutler, Kasey, Kaplan, Brenden, Derek and Lilli. Dorathy also leaves a host of friends, some of which she called 'family'. Preceding her in death were her parents, husband, a son-in-law, Lloyd Larson, brother Donald Nogelmeier, a brother in infancy, Earl Nogelmeier, and a sister, Delma Harris. Email condolences to www.furnessfuneralhome.com