Dorothy Newman

Dorothy Dean Rinker Johnson Newman, 87, a former Whitefish resident, passed away of natural causes on Dec. 23, 2006, at a nursing home in Sidney.

She was born Dec. 14, 1919, in Minot, N.D., the daughter of Amos and Jennie Rinker. Dorothy graduated from Minot Model High School and then worked for various farms in the area.

She met and married Lloyd A. "Slim" Johnson on Jan. 24, 1942, in Wolf Point. At this time a son, Norman, and a daughter, Wanda, were born. The family then relocated to Williston, N.D., where the couple divorced in 1960.

Dorothy and the children then moved to Martin City. After the completion of a training course at the Kalispell Business College, she went to work for Canyon Logging Co. and FK and L Lumber Mill in Martin City.

Dorothy and friend Betty Kartheiser traveled extensively throughout the Pacific Northwest and Canada. While on one of their adventures, the two friends were caught on film at the Radium Hot Springs, a shot published in the July 1966 issue of National Geographic.

Dorothy learned to fly-fish, which she enjoyed immensely. She also enjoyed hiking, picking huckleberries, gardening and hunting for meat.

In her off time while cooking for Russ Baeth's hunting camp, she took an elk, a black bear and a white-tailed buck. The Hungry Horse News ran a picture and story of her hunting prowess. The headline read "Modern Day Diana."

Dorothy learned many of her outdoor skills from her father Amos. Father and daughter often fished together.

Dorothy went to work for the Anaconda Aluminum Co. in Columbia Falls, as a receptionist and printer operator. It was at that time she met and married James Newman. The couple enjoyed traveling and enjoyed life until Jim had a debilitating stroke. Dorothy took early retirement to care for him until he passed away in Lewistown.

Dorothy had a beautiful home in Columbia Falls that she worked on so diligently to maintain and improve.

She had various fruit trees including apple, apricot, cherry, pear and plum, as well as large strawberry and raspberry patches and a vegetable garden. She loved to plant trees and flowers, mow the lawn and maintain her various gardens.

She was preceded in death by her parents Amos and Jennie Rinker; sister Delores Ritter; half-brother Charlie Rinker; maternal grandmother Jennie Stepp; uncle Bob Mills; and granddaughter Joleen Johnson.

She is survived by her son Norman Johnson and wife Emily Peck, in Polson, and their children Teresa Malzer, in Grovetown, Calif., Jacey Johnson and her son, Connor McGee, in Boise, Idaho, and Alicia Cunnings and her children, Makayla and Noah. She also is survived by her daughter Wanda Miller and her children Beth Purcell, in Kent, Wash., and Lisa Miller, in Auburn, Wash.; and by grandchildren Sari and Charlotte.

Funeral services took place Dec. 29, 2006, at Austin Funeral Home, in Whitefish, with the Rev. David V. Kauffman officiating. Interment followed at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls.