Dorothy Janisch, age 92, of Valley City, ND, died Friday, May 24th at SMP Health-St. Raphael surrounded by her loving family under CHI Hospice Care.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, May 30th at SMP Health-St. Raphael Chapel. Visitation will be held one hour before the service at the chapel on Thursday afternoon. Interment will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Dorothy loved sweets, especially cookies and ice cream. In lieu of monetary gifts, please take someone
you care about for a cookie or ice cream and think fondly of Dorothy. An online guestbook and livestream of Dorothy’s service will be available at www.lerudmathias.com.
Dorothy Marie Usselman, the daughter of Adam and Emma (Weber) Usselman, was born June 9, 1931 in Aberdeen, SD. Dorothy grew up on a farm near Mina, SD, with her parents, brother and sister. She graduated from Aberdeen High School. She met her husband, LaVerne Janisch, when they were working at a Red Owl grocery store in Aberdeen, SD. They married and lived a short time in Britton, SD and Hankinson, ND, but she spent most of her adult life in Valley City, ND.
Dorothy and LaVerne had four children, Joseph, who died at birth, Alice, Susan, and Lynn. They had 7 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Dorothy worked over 25 years as a nurse’s aide in Valley City’s Mercy Hospital. She especially enjoyed the years she worked in the nursery.
One of her greatest joys was the home daycare she provided over the years to nearly 85 kids, 5 of whom were her grandchildren. She dearly loved her “babysitting kids” and enjoyed hearing from them years later. Dorothy also found time to work weekends at the Nearly Nu Store. She loved a bargain, so it was the perfect place for her. Dorothy enjoyed work and often said that work was her fun. Dorothy was active in the Eagles Ladies Auxiliary, participating in many activities. She was very proud to be chosen as Mrs. Eagles in 1988, and served on the Auxiliary Ritual Team. In addition to the Eagles, she was active in Merry Maids Homemakers and Catholic Daughters. She took a couple photography classes at Valley City State University and participated in a Badlands Photo Field Trip. Dorothy’s hobbies included square dancing with Vern, sewing, knitting, crocheting, embroidering, photography and cooking. Her caramel rolls were a hit at her daughters’ slumber parties. She enjoyed plants and grew the most beautiful, huge, African Violets. She loved country western music, with her favorite performers being Charlie Pride and Randy Travis. Dorothy was very excited to have met Charlie Pride and for a photo op with him. She said that, of all her hobbies, sewing was her favorite. Dorothy valued her friends, loved phone visits, and entertaining those friends with coffee and treats. She was an excellent cook and hosted many family meals.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, LaVerne, son, Joseph, parents, Adam and Emma Usselman, brother, Joe Usselman, sister, Alice Duttenhoffer, and numerous other aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Our mother was very fortunate to have excellent care in her later years when she was a resident of The Legacy Place, then St Raphael, and under Hospice care. The staff for all three were very kind and attentive to her.