Dorothy Lucille Tesch

DOROTHY LUCILLE TESCH, R.N.

7/26/1926 – 12/9/2023

Dorothy Lucille (Johnson) Tesch, 97, was born on July 26, 1926 to Andrew and Stella (Moore) Johnson in Elizabeth, Colorado. She weighed 4 ½ pounds at birth and could fit in a shoebox!

She went peacefully to spend eternity with Jesus on December 9, 2023 in Coupeville, WA.

Dorothy had five siblings: Blanche, Elmer, Alvin, Edwin, and Robert. They spent their early years on a ranch in Colorado. In 1933, they moved to California. Dorothy attended West Hollywood Elementary, Virgil Junior High, and graduated from Los Angeles High School in the winter of 1945. Her favorite subjects were science, reading, and literature. She enjoyed ice skating at a local rink and school dances at that time were the two step and jitterbug. She attended Wilshire Presbyterian Church.

Her first job was babysitting in the neighborhood for five cents an hour. Then she worked as a clerk in a clothing store, a telephone operator, and for a printing company that made ‘fancy’ stationery for movie stars. Wanting more of a challenge, she tested and enrolled in the Los Angeles County General Hospital Nursing Program. She graduated in 1949 as a Registered Nurse and kept her license current for 50 years.

Dorothy met her future husband, Ernie, while on a trip to visit relatives in Washington. Ernie and Dorothy were married December 29, 1951 in Los Angeles, CA. They honeymooned up the coast and spent their entire married life on Whidbey Island. She was a faithful, giving wife until her last day here. From their union, three children were born: Roger, Barbara, and Shirley. She was a devoted, loving mother to them all.

Dorothy kept busy canning and baking, fishing, hiking, and entertaining friends with Ernie. She attended scouting activities with Roger and sewed dresses for Barbara and Shirley. In the summer she drove her children to and from Cranberry Lake and City Beach so they could learn to swim. She liked collecting music boxes and stopping at garage sales. In the 50s and 60s, Dorothy was one of several women who organized to raise funds to build a hospital in Coupeville. Shirley was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at that hospital and Dorothy passed away at it as well.

Dorothy faced health challenges with faith, strength, and courage. “She did her best and trusted God with the rest.” She was a kind and gentle soul who is and will be deeply missed ‘until we meet again.’ We are comforted knowing she looked forward to being with Jesus and reuniting with loved ones in heaven.

She is preceded in death by her parents, siblings, and daughter Shirley (Tesch) Horne. Three weeks short of their 72nd anniversary, Dorothy is survived by her husband, Ernie. Also surviving are her son Roger (Shannon) of Tonasket and daughter Barbara (Robert) Veliz of Tacoma. Dorothy’s grandchildren are Katrina and Eric, and Robert, Jr (Amanda) and Daniel (Holly). Dorothy’s great grandchildren are Robbie III and Serafina, and Wyatt and Ethan. Dorothy is also survived by several nieces and nephews in California.

The family wishes to thank Whidbey Memorial Funeral Home (www.whidbeymemorial.com) and the many friends who encouraged, supported, and prayed for Dorothy and Ernie over the years.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), PO Box 5021, Hagerstown, MD, 21741-5021.