Dorothy Fishbaugh, 85

Dorothy Fishbaugh, 85, passed away Monday, May 1, 2006, in Kalispell after an illness following surgery. She was born Jan 21, 1921, in Ferndale, the daughter of Nels K. and Hattie C. (Johnson) Peterson.

She and her twin brother, Glen, were the youngest of nine children. The family later moved to Bigfork, where Dorothy attended school, graduating salutatorian of her high-school class.

While working at the post office in Bigfork, she met Lawrence J. Fishbaugh of Great Falls, and they were married in June 1941. While Lawrence was serving in the Navy Seabees in World War II, she spent some time away from her beloved hometown of Bigfork.

But after the war, the couple resettled in Bigfork and started a home and a family. While Lawrence was building up his construction firm, Dorothy devoted herself to raising their daughters, Wanda and Lisa, cooking, sewing, gardening and working in the Bigfork Methodist Church. She served as communion steward at the church for many years, and she and her husband often could be found there at all hours, cleaning, caretaking and cultivating friendships.

Dorothy was known by many as a wonderful cook and a fine seamstress. She especially enjoyed entertaining a full house at home or at the family's cabin on Swan Lake. Evenings found her crocheting in her favorite chair, making the many afghans she gave to friends or donated to various organizations, including the Shodair Home in Helena or the Lake View Care Center in Bigfork.

Her garden was such a showpiece that many people, tourists and locals, stopped to look at it. At one time she had hundreds of varieties of gladiolas blooming in the yard. Her tulips and poppies were also a source of great enjoyment for her and for the community.

Before Lawrence died in 1999, they traveled extensively, wintering in Arizona, visiting their daughter Wanda in Germany and taking part in cruises in the Southern Hemisphere.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence, and seven of her eight brothers and sisters.

She is survived by her two daughters and their spouses, Dr. Gert Benning and Wanda of Neuoetting, Germany, and Marty Thenell and Lisa of Seattle; her three grandchildren, Carina Benning, Nick Benning and Luke Thenell; her sister, Freda Kuhlman, of Toledo, Ohio; her sister-in-law, Hazel Peterson, of Kalispell; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial services for Dorothy Fishbaugh will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at the United Methodist Church in Bigfork, with burial in the C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell with her husband, Lawrence.

The family requests no flowers. Donations can be made to the United Methodist Church of Bigfork, 750 Electric Ave., Bigfork, MT 59911.

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