Dorothy Hildreth

Dorothy J. Hildreth passed away April 17, 2023 at Elim Care Center, Fargo, ND under Hospice care.

Dorothy was born April 22, 1921 to Robert and Mary (McLean) Stirling of Gardner, ND.  She grew up on the family farm and was the middle child of nine children.  She graduated from Gardner High School in 1939 where she played and excelled on the winning girls basketball teams.  They achieved many tournament wins during her playing years.  After high school, she attended Dakota Business College and worked in Fargo before traveling to Portland, OR to work in the shipyards during World War II. 

Dorothy returned to North Dakota and married Ralph (Ham) Hildreth in October of 1944.  They lived in Argusville and later moved to Gardner where Ham was a rural mail carrier and Dorothy was his substitute mail carrier.  She was active in the community serving on the Gardner City Council, served on the Gardner School Board and was the Superintendent of the Sunday School at Congregational Church.  She also served as President of the VFW Auxiliary and is a lifetime member of both the VFW Auxiliary and American Legion Auxiliary.  Dorothy helped many in the community by providing rides to and from doctor appointments.  In 1962, she started working at the ASC office in Fargo, ND retiring from there in 1983.

Dorothy and Ham entertained many friends and family at their lake cabin on Leaf Lake where the sunfish were always biting.  She loved Christmas and decorated her home with her huge collection of Santa Clauses and loved baking holiday treats.  Family and friends would stop by to see the new additions year after year and she loved the musical santa’s, turning them all on with a big smile on her face.

She was one of a kind with her quick wit.  She always had a joke and a story to share.  She shared many childhood memories and loved talking and watching sports.  She attended as many of her children and grandchildren’s games as she could.  She attended several FM Red Hawks games.  She had her sun visor and several layers of clothes ready for whatever the weather called for.  She was a good friend and always up for a good time, playing bingo, anagrams, and loved card/dice games.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son Craig, grandson Joseph Koehlmoos, and great-granddaughter Nova Leigh Koehlmoos.

Dorothy is survived by her children: Gary (Connie), Marilyn (Allyn) Koehlmoos, daughter-in-law Carol Hildreth; grandchildren: Zane Hildreth, Danielle Hildreth, Kelly (Jason Natal) Hildreth, Jacilyn (Eric) Hongess, Thomas Koehlmoos, Bryan Hildreth, Stephanie (Jamie) Bailey, Stacy (Israel) Flores, Ashley (Sean) Wilson, great-grandchildren: Pharrah, Hattie Jo, and Eliot Hongess, Brenna and Avory Hildreth, Oceana Koehlmoos, Isaiah, Jacob, Fe Flores, Jackson Wilson, Aella Natal and many family members and friends.

Visitation: Friday, April 21, 2023 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at West Funeral Home, West Fargo, ND.

Funeral Service: Saturday, April 22, 2023 at 2:00 PM at West Funeral Home, West Fargo, ND.

Burial: Gardner Cemetery, Gardner, ND at a later date by family.

West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center
westfuneralhome.com

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