Dorothy Van Sickle

Dorothy A. Van Sickle, 103, passed away on January 8, 2020 at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center in Bismarck, ND. She lived a long full life of many wonderful times with family and friends. Everyone who knew her is richer from those experiences. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Janaury 25, at United Church of Christ, 1200 E Highland Acres, Bismarck. 

Burial will be held at Fairview Cemetery, Bismarck.

She was born on March 26, 1916, to Maximillian and Nina Hermann in Hoquiam, Washington. Her father, an immigrant from Danzig, Germany (now Gdansk, Poland), set out at age 18 on a sailing ship from Danzig, a trip that took him around the world three times and ended when he “jumped ship” in Portland, Oregon. Dorothy’s mother, Nina Graves, was a descendent of Captain Thomas Graves, one of a landing party in Jamestown, VA 1607. The Graves family crossed the plains in covered wagons, emigrating from Illinois to the Willamette Valley, OR in 1867. Nina was teaching school in Tillicum, OR when she met Max and in 1912, married and moved to Hoquiam, WA where Max worked in the lumber yards.

Dorothy was born in Hoquiam and when ten years old the family moved to Olympia, WA where her father had his own woodworking shop. With Dorothy and three younger siblings, money was tight during the Depression years. Dorothy remembered her mother’s ability to feed the family of six for a week on just a nickel! During her high school years Dorothy, a top student, was active in drama club and took lead roles in plays and other productions. She was also involved in the school choir, as soloist and accompanist. Competing in area and state levels she made quite a name for herself and the local paper described her as “a prima donna who trills away at songs.” Dorothy was also active in sports, playing speedball and basketball and was a member of the National Girls Athletic Association.

After high school graduation in 1935, she attended the College of Puget Sound in Tacoma where she sang in the prestigious Adelphian Choral group. Working the next summer, she managed to save $75, the required registration fee for nursing school at Tacoma General Hospital, and began classes, receiving her RN certification in 1941. She had enlisted in the US Navy Nurse Corp Reserves in January 1941. After Pearl Harbor in December of that year she was called to active duty and entered the service as a Navy Ensign assigned to the San Diego Naval Hospital in California, a hospital that during the war received many of the wounded from the Battle of Midway.

In May 1941, Dorothy met Bruce Van Sickle, then a Marine lieutenant at the hospital for surgery that would qualify him for flight school. Following their engagement in 1942, Dorothy resigned from the nurse corps and lived in Muskogee, OK while working for DuPont Company (manufactures of gun powder) in their large first aid hospital. After finishing flight school in Dallas, TX, Bruce returned to the Pacific Theater and while on a short furlough he and Dorothy met in Chicago where they were married May 26, 1943. During the remained of Bruce’s overseas tour Dorothy lived with her parents in Olympia, WA where their first daughter, Susan, was born. After WWII, Bruce and Dorothy spent a year in Spokane, WA before moving to Minot in December 1946, after Bruce’s father’s death.

While in Minot, sons John, Craig and David were born, and Bruce begin his law practice. Dorothy was active in a number of organizations, PEO, Eastern Star, PTA, and at the First Congregation Church she was in the church circle, the organ accompanist and choir member. She also gave time with nursing activities, volunteering at schools and public health department. Dorothy was involved with music all of her life and inherited that natural ability from her parents. Wanting a new challenge, she decided in her middle years to return to college and received a BA degree in music from Minot State University. In 2015 she was established a scholarship endowment fund for MSU music majors.

Following Dorothy and Bruce’s move to Bismarck in 1976, Dorothy again began to give to the community. Her interest in music continued in Bismarck and she was active in Sweet Adeline’s, the Bismarck Symphony Foundation and the music program at the United Church of Christ. Her care and concern for others led to her involvement in numerous organizations and causes, some of which were BCEP, Charles Hall, PEO, and the Bismarck Current Events Club. She received many awards and accolades over the years and was recognized as one who selflessly gave to others though she never sought personal recognition. Dorothy and Bruce spent many years driving their RV around the country and had good memories of their road trips. They also traveled around the globe, some trips taking them to Israel, Zimbabwe and Australia.

Dorothy was always interested in local community affairs and enjoyed drives around the Bismarck area to view the latest buildings and developments. She especially enjoyed her times at her son Craig’s farm in Sawyer. She helped with branding and often purchased a cow or two to add to his herd. That purchase required her close monitoring to assure that “her cow” was being well fed and pastured!

Dorothy had a true interest in people and the world around her and has left behind a legacy of integrity, compassion, honor, and selflessness. Dorothy fell in love with the prairies of North Dakota and despite her childhood years in Washington state she vowed never to return because she had found her place on the plains of North Dakota.

Dorothy is survived by her four children; daughter, Susan (Mike) Cooper, Eagle, ID; sons, John (Val), Corvallis, OR; Craig (Bonnie), Sawyer, ND; and David (Anne), La Mirada, CA; grandchildren, Marc, Carrie, Austin, Andrew, Bruce and Stephanie; eight great-grandchildren, her brother, Laurence Hermann; sister-in-law,  Doris Hermann; and numerous nieces and nephews who include her nephew, Guy (Mary) Van Sickle of Bismarck and their son, Nickolas, who often included her in their family affairs; she was so blessed by their attentions.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Bruce; her parents; brother, George; and sister, Ruth.

The family would like to extend their thanks to the wonderful staff at Missouri Slope who showed her loving care.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dorothy Van Sickle Foundation Fund, Minot State University, UCC Church in Bismarck, or Charles Hall youth and family services in Bismarck.