HURON — Dorothy M. Clouser, age 99, of Huron, passed away comfortably with her daughters at her side on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at Avantara in Huron.
Her funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., on Monday, April 21, at Welter Funeral Home. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Monday afternoon.
Dorothy Minnie Aldrich was born on a cold wintery night Dec. 28, 1925, on the farm along Sand Creek, Beadle County, nine miles West of Virgil, South Dakota. She was the daughter of William Doland Aldrich and Irene Hale. She was the sister of Isabell, Hazel, Catherine, Doris, Betty and William “Bill” all of whom proceeded her in death. Dorothy married John Robert Clouser on Oct. 20, 1946, in Grace Episcopal Church (Stone Church) in Huron.
Dorothy is survived by her loving children; Bonnie (Joe) Milczarek, Robert (Debbie) Clouser and Peggy (Gene) Russon. She was the proud grandmother of Scott and Chad Clouser, Natasha (Jason) Milam, Robert (Keri) Milczarek and Maria (Rylan) Shipp. Dorothy also is the great grandmother of Robert, Aubrey, Hannah, Preston, Coburn and Bryce Milczarek: Robert, Ryleigh and Ramey Shipp.
Dorothy attended the Sand Creek Consolidated School dropping out of school the winter of her senior year due to weather and the inability to catch the school bus. The school allowed her to attend the senior dance with her sister Isabell making her dress.
Dorothy helped her husband John begin farming south of Virgil, and in 1962 they purchased a farm and moved to north of Virgil where they remained until retiring in November 2014. Dorothy and John then moved into Huron.
She was a member of the Virgil Good Hope Rebecca Lodge, served on the Virgil School Board, secretary for the Beadle County Farm Bureau and a member of the Neighborly Get Together Club.
For many years Dorothy and John hosted out of state pheasant hunters in their home. She served breakfast and supper to them and for a time dressed their birds. Dorothy enjoyed cooking, gardening, working on genealogy with her sister Hazel Curtis and her nieces Joyce Curtis Dubois and Carol Curtis Gildemaster. Dorothy and John enjoyed traveling, especially visiting relatives in Pennsylvania, Utah, Florida, and Louisiana. They enjoyed gathering family history which included a lot of cemetery hopping. She also enjoyed fishing, playing cards and caring for her many plants and flowers at the condo.
Dorothy knew when her daughter Peggy visited that she would always get a new plant to care for and enjoy.
Dorothy will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She loved and appreciated all your visits and phone calls. The family wishes to thank the nurses, aides, and staff at Avantara nursing home.
