Dorothy Schmotzer

Dorothy Helen Cushing Schmotzer, 91, of Red Wing, died Friday at the Fairview Seminary Home in Red Wing, after a brief stay. She was born on November 3, 1914 in St. Paul to A. William and Bertha (Beckler) Gibson. In 1915, her family joined their father, who had gone ahead of them to set up homestead 30 miles out of Scobey, Montana. Dorothy and the family returned to Red Wing in 1927. She graduated from Red Wing High School on May 27, 1932. While in high school she excelled in Mathematics and Secretarial skills. She began employment at the Koehler Bookstore of Red Wing and continued there until February 1940. On June 5, 1939 she married Robert Cushing. They later divorced. She worked for C.P.A. Carl Stromme from 1950 until 1954 at which time she became employed as an accountant and bookkeeper for J.C. Penney Company until 1960. From 1960 until retiring in 1972 she worked for Pittsburgh Paint and Glass Company in Red Wing. On June 14, 1975 she was married to Leonard Schmotzer. She was a member of the Degree of Honor for over 25 years and a member of St. Joseph?s Catholic Church. She enjoyed bowling, music, playing cards, Chinese checkers, doing crossword puzzles and was an avid reader. Survivors include three children, Dennis (Bette) Cushing of Lakeville,Minnesota, Maureen (Steve) Funk of Bay City, Wisconsin and Vance (Judie) Cushing of Red Wing; five grandchildren, Robert Funk, Theresa Koch, Katherine Beck, Rachel Funk and Natalie Cushing; four great grandchildren, Benjamin and Elisabeth Funk and Michael and Ashley Koch and one sister-in-law, Verna Gibson of Marysville, Washington. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard on August 15, 2000, two infant sons, Paul and Stephen and one brother, Lawrence Gibson. Mass of the Resurrection will be 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph?s Catholic Church with Father Thomas M. Kommers officiating. Burial will be in the Calvary Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Robert Funk, Theresa Koch, Katherine Beck, Rachel Funk, Natalie Cushing and Pat Koch. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel and at the church for one hour prior to the service.