Dorothy M. Lanfear, 82

On Sept. 30, 2005, Dorothy M. Lanfear, beloved mother and best friend, was set free from Alzheimer's at the age of 82.

Born in Gebo, Wyo., of Rayburn and Louise (Flagg) Dixon, she enjoyed her prairie childhood, later moving to Thermopolis after her beloved father died. In her third year of high school, the family moved to Billings.

After graduating, she attended beautician school and became a beautician. Soon thereafter, she met and married Michael Yurek and they had a daughter, Sandi Lou, their only child. After living in Missoula and Bozeman, they settled in Kalispell.

They later divorced and Dorothy met and married Robert R. Lanfear Sr. with whom she shared nearly 25 happy years of traveling, fishing and living on Bitterroot Lake before his death in 1989.

Since that time she spent many wonderful hours in her flower beds, doing wood crafts in her workshop and just sitting on the deck enjoying the lake. She moved to Edgewood Vista three years ago when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and has lived there since that time.

Her life was filled with smiles and laughter, lots of friends, woodworking and craft shows and a loving family. Her beautiful smile, optimism, loving and welcoming spirit will be remembered always. She was truly a blessing in our lives.

Private graveside services for Dorothy are being planned at this time.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Dorothy's family.