Dorothy O. Eichel

Dorothy O. Eichel, 92, passed away October 24, 2009 at Helping Hands Assisted Living in Brandon, SD.Funeral services will be 10:00am Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at First Baptist Church in Parker, SD with interment at Rosehill Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 12:00pm Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at Hofmeister-Jones Funeral Home with family present to greet friends from 6-8pm.Dorothy Eichel was born July 22, 1917 to Herbert and Vera (Coddington) Eichel on a farm southeast of Parker, South Dakota. She graduated from Parker High School in 1935. In 1937 she took a one year course at Eastern State Normal School in Madison and began teaching all eight grades in a rural school. She continued her education and in 1948 received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of South Dakota. She taught at Brookings and Irene High Schools. During these years Dorothy played on many softball teams and received her pilot’s license. Dorothy left her teaching career in 1951 and worked for 17 years as an accountant for an insurance company in Sioux Falls. In 1968 Dorothy returned to teaching in Parker. She taught fifth and sixth grade, emphasizing the importance of reading, until her retirement in 1982. During retirement, Dorothy cared for her father and brother Duane during their illnesses. She enjoyed knitting, reading, doing crossword puzzles and playing cards. Due to severe arthritis, she spent the last six years in the Assisted Living Center in Parker and Helping Hand in Brandon. As a member of the Parker First Baptist Church for 80 years, Dorothy served as church treasurer and was active in Bible Study groups. She took pride in the fact that she taught Sunday school classes until she was 80. Grateful for having shared Dorothy’s life are her brother Robert (Bonnie), Sandy OR; sister-in-law Helga Eichel, Parker SD; four nieces Harriett Wendt, Ann Mellegaard, Irene Wirt, and Lois Robinson; seven nephews Bill Eichel, Jr., Jim Eichel, Dale Eichel, Dain Eichel, Jerry Waters, Lyle Waters and Tim Waters; and many great and great-great nieces and nephews. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, brothers William and Duane, sisters Evelyn Wirt and Eileen Waters, niece Janet Phillips, and nephews David Eichel and Gary Eichel.