Dorothy Lee Reimer
Dorothy Lee Reimer, of Thorndale, passed away on Saturday, March 14, 2020, at the S.P.J.S.T Nursing Home in Taylor. She was 89 years old.
Dorothy was born on May 26, 1930, in Thrall to Ben and Lydia (Polzin) Ribbeck and was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church on Sept. 21, 1930. She moved to Thorndale in 1933 where she lived the rest of her life. She was confirmed on Aug. 9, 1942, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Thorndale. She graduated from Thorndale High School as the salutatorian in 1947.
After high school, she worked at Ribbeck Hardware in Thorndale for her father for 15 years. Dorothy opened Ribbeck Furniture in Thorndale in 1960 and owned and operated the furniture store for 43 years until her retirement in 2003.
Dorothy married Marvin Handrick on June 21, 1952, and was married to him for 31 years until his death in 1984. Four years later, she married Vernon Reimer on Oct. 22, 1988, and was married to him for 29 years until his death in 2017.
Dorothy was very active in the Thorndale community. She was a charter member of the Thorndale VFW Auxiliary and became a member of the Thorndale VFD Auxiliary one month after its inception. She was also a member and officer in the Thorndale Chamber of Commerce. She taught Sunday school at St. Paul Lutheran Church for a number of years.
She was an avid cook who especially enjoyed baking. She would frequently be found baking pies, cookies, and bread for family, friends, and community events. Dorothy enjoyed taking gambling trips on the bus to Oklahoma and Louisiana with her husband, Vernon. She loved and looked forward to playing dominos and cards with friends at social gatherings. This enjoyment was continued at the nursing home where she played cards, bingo, and never missed her daily games of 42. In her later years, the joys of her life were her twin granddaughters. She enjoyed taking care of them while their parents worked, driving them to and from school, teaching them to cook, playing games with them, and watching them while they played sports at St. Paul Lutheran School and Thorndale High School.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents and two husbands.
Dorothy is survived by her son, Dorvin Handrick of Thorndale; daughter, Devona Butterworth and husband Steve of Thorndale; and granddaughters, Heather Butterworth and Kristen Butterworth of San Antonio.
Visitation will be held at Providence Funeral Home in Taylor on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, from 4-6 p.m. Funeral services are at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Thorndale on Thursday, March 19, 2020, at 10 a.m. with burial following at the St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Keith Kiesling, Larry Laffere, Rickey Melde, Stephen Niemtschk, Gary Northcott, Douglas Waiser, Neil Weise, and Floyd Zuehlke Jr. Honorary Pallbearers are Toots Tiemann, Jimmy and Gracie Cargill, and Ed and Sharon Betak.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Paul Lutheran Church General Fund, P.O. Box 369, Thorndale, TX 76577 or to the charity of your choice.