Dorothy Bowker

Dorothy Bowker, 83, of LaPlant, passed away on Thursday, December 2, 2021, at Cheyenne River Health Center, Eagle Butte.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. CST, Saturday, December 11, 2021 at the Church of God, LaPlant. Burial will follow at the LaPlant Congregational Cemetery A wake will be 6:00 p.m., Friday, December 10, 2021, at the church, with a procession from the hill east of town at 4:00 p.m. CST.

Dorothy Mary Lee was born June 16, 1938 at Old Cheyenne Agency, SD to Abraham Lee and Ethel Garfield. She went to school at Cheyenne Agency until she was needed at home to help her father take care of her five little sisters due to her mother’s passing.

Dorothy met Jonas Bowker Jr., and they were married May 6, 1959. To this union 11 children were born: Dixie Ann, Jerrilyn Jean, Ronald Wayne, Orally Rowena, Harley Lee, Joni Anne, Darial Marie, Shelly Raylene, Darlene Jolene, Lisa Rae, and Lester Allen. Dorothy lived in LaPlant raising her children and doing different things for her community and activities with the community youth. She served on the Tiospaye Topa School Board in 1997.

Most of all, Dorothy enjoyed being a homemaker, making bread and cooking. She had a very big heart, and she was a very giving person. She always opened her doors to anyone who needed a place to stay.

Dorothy is survived by her children: Dixie, Ronnie (Doretta), Harley, Joni, Darial, Shelly, Darlene (Mike), Lisa, and Lester; 46 grandchildren; 131 great grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Jonas; her parents; daughters, Jerrilyn and Rowena Bowker; daughter-in-law, Tamara Bowker; son-in-law, Stanford Fire Cloud Sr.; grandsons: Eric Scott, Royce Bowker, Colt LeCompte, Shawn Brown, and Isiah Iron Wing; and granddaughter, Roxanne Rosas.

Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Dorothy’s arrangements.