Dorothy Ann Richer

Dorothy Ann Richer, 88, died on Monday, August 21 at her residence at Primrose Senior Retirement in Sioux Falls, SD. A wake service and rosary will be held at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel in Sioux City at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 25, with family present from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Her funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 26 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Elk Point, SD. Fr. Joseph Vogel will be officiating both days. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Sioux City. Online condolences may be sent to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Dorothy was born on June 3, 1929, to Herman (Jack) Behmer and Ida (Jones Blair) Behmer in Sutherland, Iowa. Later the family moved to Akron, Iowa where Dorothy graduated from Akron High School in 1947.

After converting to Catholicism, she married Robert A. Richer on January 25, 1949, at Sacred Heart Church in Sioux City. To this union, one daughter, Mary Elizabeth, was born.

After staying home for a few years with her daughter, Dorothy went to work at Northwestern Bell Telephone Company as a long distance operator on the cord board. She was a dedicated worker for “Ma” Bell for over twenty-five years and made many lasting friendships.

Dorothy was a fun-loving individual, who enjoyed life and meeting new people. She was a great conversationalist, and loved going places, visiting casinos, and eating out. She was very passionate in her beliefs and was happy to share them. Dorothy was an ardent supporter of all her family’s activities and frequently and lovingly spoke about their various accomplishments.

Dorothy always enjoyed performing, both in music and theatre. She was active in both from high school throughout her life. Her love of the spotlight was passed on to her from her father’s family who were musicians and performers. Dorothy sang in choirs, directed choirs and accompanied masses at many different churches. She was very involved in theatre, acting in the Sioux City Community Theatre, the South Sioux City Community Theatre, the Aberdeen Community Theater, and the Lamb Theatre Company. Among her favorite roles were Golda in Fiddler on the Roof, and Opal in Everybody Loves Opal. She was very proud to be one of the charter members of the Sioux City Community Theatre’s Sidewalk Company. This adult musical entertainment group gave performances throughout the Siouxland area and raised money to put in the sidewalk at the community theatre, and also purchased a new piano.

Dorothy was her daughter’s first piano teacher, and passed on her love of music and theatre, not only to Mary Beth, but also to her grandchildren. All of them remain very active in the arts.

Dorothy served on numerous volunteer boards, including the Sioux City Community Theatre, the Heelan High School Parent Advisory Board, and the Briar Cliff Parent Board.

Dorothy moved to Elk Point, SD in the mid nineteen eighties and for several years enjoyed spending her winters in Yuma, Az. with her friend Mary. While in Yuma, she accompanied the performances of a senior citizen’s singing group.

Dorothy was proceeded in death by her parents, two half-brothers, Merlyn Behmer and Donald Blair, one half- sister Earlene Blair Adams, her husband, Robert Richer, her son-in-law, Thomas F. Kelly, and two miscarried grandchildren.

Dorothy is survived by her daughter, Mary Elizabeth Kelly of Sioux Falls, her grandchildren, Rose Ann (Josh) Hofland of Sioux Falls and Kevin Robert Kelly of New York City, her dear friend, Marianne Jensen of Elk Point, two special nieces, Alice (Adams) Siler of Fairbanks, Alaska, and Harlene (Adams) Wiese of Reno, Nevada, as well as numerous other nieces and nephews.