GREAT BEND — Dorothy “Dottie” Anna (Dreher) Schmidt, 92, died on April 20, 2020, at the University of Kansas Health System – Great Bend Campus. Dorothy “Dottie” was born November 19, 1927, in Rush County, to Phillip P. and Mary (Herrman) Dreher. She was the third oldest of 7 children. Dorothy married Leo J. Schmidt on January 13, 1947, in St. Anthony Catholic Church in Schoenchen. He preceded her in death on July 13, 2014.
After her marriage, Dorothy moved to Great Bend, and this is where she and Leo raised their family. Faith was a big part of her life; she attended services regularly at St. Patrick Catholic Church. She was a homemaker, doting on her husband and children. She was a terrific German cook, making most things from scratch. Her family loved her homemade bierocks, golari, kuchen, pies, and cakes to name a few. She was known for making homemade noodles by laying sheets on every flat surface in the house and her children helped by running the noodle dough through her trusty noodle maker and flipping the noodles while they were drying. Dorothy made dozens of cookies each Christmas and her children were sent to deliver boxes of cookies to their neighbors. She also canned cucumbers, tomatoes, and made homemade jellies.
Dorothy took up golf later in life and enjoyed playing with her family and friends. She didn’t hit far, but always straight as an arrow – like she lived. She attended hundreds of sporting events, maybe thousands. She traveled, visiting her children and took trips with friends to see Niagra Falls and other places. She also enjoyed playing bingo with her friends and daughters, even taking road trips to Oklahoma. She was proud of her family and all their accomplishments. Dottie spent her last years at Riverbend Assisted Living Center where the caring staff and residents became her second family.
Surviving are her six children, Dianna Koerner of Hays, George Schmidt (Sallie) of Fort Smith, Ark., Karen Harper (Steve) of Goodyear, Ariz., Mike Schmidt (Debbie) of Timnath, Colo., Patricia “Trish” Schartz of Great Bend (fiancé Nathan McDonald of Ness City), and Joan Barrett (Jeff) of Charlotte, NC; twelve grandchildren; fifteen great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren; and one sister, Almita Augustine of Salina. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Julius Dreher, and C.J. Dreher; and three sisters, Alice Orth, Thelma Karlin, and Darlene Leiker.
Visitation will be held from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m., Thursday, April 23, 2020, at Bryant Funeral Home. A private rosary will be held at 9:30 a.m., Friday, April 24, 2020, at Bryant Funeral Home, with livestream available under Dorothy’s obituary at www. bryantfh.net. A Private Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:30 a.m., with Father Don Bedore presiding, and recording will be available to view that afternoon at www.bryantfh.net under Dorothy’s obituary. Interment will be in the Great Bend Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Holy Family School Endowment Fund, in care of Bryant Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net
Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home
1425 Patton Road
Great Bend, Kansas 67530
The Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, April 22, 2020
