Dorothy "Dottie" Grenz

Dorothy “Dottie” Eve Grenz, 81, of Bismarck, passed away on February 4, 2023, with her family at her bedside.

A memorial service will be held 1:00 PM, Thursday, Feb. 16, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck.

Visitation will begin at 11:00 AM on Thursday, Feb. 16, and continue until the service.

She was born on June 28, 1941 in Karlsruhe, ND, to Jacob (Jack) and Martha (Kramer) Duchsherer. Dorothy was the youngest of 11 children and was raised on the family farm until she graduated from Karlsruhe high school. In 1962, she married Walter H. Grenz (Livona, ND) and started a family in Minot, ND. Together they had a daughter, LaDonna Marie, followed by a son, James Walter. On December 15th, 1963, Walt died in a tragic airplane crash.

In the late 1960s, Dottie moved to Sioux Falls, SD and explored the entertainment business, performing with a C&W band as a featured vocalist. She moved to Bismarck in 1972 and was employed in various occupations including sales, service and hospitality, a Certified Nurse Aide in home healthcare and as a property manager for a local apartment complex. In 1987, she earned an associates degree in Criminal Justice from Bismarck State College. 

Dottie’s hobbies included a variety of crafty projects, creating jewelry, growing plants, and refinishing furniture. She delighted in digging through thrift store shelves and finding the perfect items to transform into useful and beautiful treasures.  She was a voracious reader of books, often surrounded by mounds of reading material and an avid fan of crime shows and most recently, the TV series Yellowstone. She loved to play in the sun and enjoyed the beautiful summers outside. During the frigid winters, she’d bake cookies and sweets and deliver them to neighbors and friends.  She had been a member of the local chapters of the Elks and Moose lodges, often volunteering for events with the Women of the Moose.  Her infectious smile, contagious laugh, and donning of adorned western styled hats were part of her charming personality. She will be missed deeply.

Dorothy is survived by her daughter, LaDonna Grenz (Beaverton,OR); her son, James Grenz (Lehigh Acres, FL); and her granddaughter, Arielle Grenz (Beaverton, OR). She is also survived by her sisters, Kathryn Hagel (Minot, ND), Regina Eisenzimmer (Rugby, ND), and Rose Keller (Mesa, AZ); as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Her death was preceded by her husband, Walter; her parents, Martha and Jacob; her brothers, John, Matt, Jack, Bennie and William Duchsherer; and her sisters, Ann Foote and Teresia Wolf.