Dorothy A. Daugaard

Dorothy A. (Maass) Daugaard, 88, of rural Garretson, passed away on Friday, August 5, 2022. Her funeral service will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 13, 2022, in the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids Chapel. Interment will be in the Dell Rapids Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 12, 2022, at Kahler-Brende Funeral Home (www.kahlerfh.com).

Dorothy Anna (Ann) Maass Daugaard was born on May 26, 1934, in a farmhouse south of Humboldt, South Dakota, to Henry and Emma (Harms) Maass. She was the big sister of Caroline, Donald, Betty Jean, Diana, Linda Henrietta, Wayne, and Lynn. She was a hard worker from the very beginning. As a child, Dorothy and her sister Caroline shocked corn to buy a piano. As a 4-H member, she earned many awards. She graduated from Humboldt High School in 1952. After high school, Dorothy attended General Beadle College in Madison, SD, and graduated with a teaching degree. She taught grades 1-8 in a one room school for 2 years, and then went on to teach 3 years of 8th grade at Montrose, SD.

One day, Dorothy went roller skating at West Soo Roller Rink in Sioux Falls, SD, and met the love of her life, Dwight Daugaard. Dwight proposed to Dorothy on August 13, 1957. They were married on June 1, 1958, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Humboldt, SD. They would eventually make their home on the Daugaard family farm in rural Garretson, SD.

They were blessed with 10 children: Dwayne (Nancy) of Hudson, WI; Darwin (Jennifer) of Garretson, SD; Dale (Stephanie) of Emporia, KS; Daryl of Bethel, AK; Debbie (Ronald Cornish) of Johnston, IA; Dean (Lori) of Highmore, SD; Don (Renee) of Rolla, MO; David (Melissa) of Garretson, SD; Daren (Tara) of Newburg, MO; and Dan. She spent the rest of her life caring for the farm and her family.

Dorothy was a straight shooter, dressed up to the nines in red lipstick, manicured nails and high heels. She was never known to miss a Saturday beauty shop appointment and Aqua Net was her friend. She loved a good joke, and her laughter was contagious. The sparkle in her eye let you know something was up. Dorothy was a strict disciplinarian, and you always knew her stance on things. "Don’t make me get out of the car, do you want to walk home, and don’t even look at him" were some of the familiar phrases growing up. Her sparkle dimmed when Dwight died and with strength and resilience, she kept her family on the farm.

Dorothy continued to live on the farm, raising Paint and Quarter horses, Angus cattle, llamas, Hampshire hogs, chickens as well as 10 kids and all that entailed. During her life she was very prominent in the religious education of children, including her own. She taught Sunday School and Bible School at the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids for over 20 years.

Faith and family were the cornerstones of her life and her reasons for persevering. In her later years, she devoted her life as both a medical advocate and caretaker for her father, Henry and her mother, Emma.

Dorothy died Friday morning, August 5, 2022, at the Avera Prince of Peace Retirement Community in Sioux Falls, SD.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband Dwight, two sons, Dan and Dale, daughter-in-law Lori, her mother, father, 3 sisters, 4 nephews and 1 niece, brother-in-law, Glen, mother-in-law, Sarah Wilhelmina (Minnie) and father-in-law, Einar.

Grateful for sharing her life are her 10 children, 26 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be directed to the Children’s Home Society or the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids Youth Group High 5.