Dorothy Rose Merkel

Aberdeen, SD-Funeral Service for Dorothy Rose Merkel, 89, of Aberdeen will be 10:00 am, Saturday, August 28, 2021, at Our Savior Lutheran Church. Rev. Jordon Andreasen will officiate. In consideration of young children and immunocompromised guests, the family requests face coverings.

Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens.

There will be a prayer service Friday at 7:00 pm with visitation from 5:00-7:00 pm at the funeral home.   

Dorothy died August 24, 2021, at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls.    

Dorothy Rose, daughter of Fred “Fritz” and Rosina “Rosie” (Siegler) Miller was born December 31, 1931, on the family farm in Dickey County near Forbes, ND.  She attended a one room country school and high school in Forbes.    

She met Alvin Merkel in school, and they were united in marriage on July 1, 1949, in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Parsonage in Forbes.  They lived in Ellendale, ND where she worked as a waitress.  In 1951 they moved to Aberdeen, SD where they raised their family. 

Dorothy was a bookkeeper for two grocery stores and later at Candy Service.  She also worked for the Aberdeen Public School lunch program and retired from Sweetheart Bakery Thrift Store in 1994.

In 1973, she and Al built a home at Richmond Lake, living there until 2008.  They very much enjoyed their time at the lake with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, fishing, boating, and having fun.  Dorothy loved her garden and flowers at the lake.  She also loved her cats, Wimpy, Sparky, Tinker, Morris and Arby.  In 2008 they moved into Aberdeen.  Alvin died in 2012.  Dorothy then moved into Primrose Independent Living.  She enjoyed the activities at Primrose.

Dorothy spent several years as a member and avid attendee at the YMCA where she loved her Senior Shape-Up classes.  In her younger years, she liked to sew.  She also liked to read and play word games.  A favorite game of hers was solitaire on her I-Pad.

Dorothy was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church and the Aberdeen Family YMCA.     

Grateful for having shared Dorothy’s life are her son, Ron Merkel and daughter, Sheryl Merkel, both of Sun City, AZ; three grandchildren, Nicolle Merkel of Deadwood, SD and Stephani (Scott) Kringstad and Courtney (Brian) Sparks, both of Sioux Falls; seven great-grandchildren; Brandon Schweitzer, Alexis Horst, Nolan Sparks, Stellan and Freyia Kringstad, and Ashton and Jayce Lenling; sister, Donna Mueller of Champlin, MN; brother, Donald Miller of Forbes and two sisters-in-law, Marion Martin and Fran Schwan.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Alvin (1-28-2012), son, Steven (10-28-2005) and sister, Verna Klipfel.    

Casketbearers will be Great-Grandsons, Brandon Schweitzer, Ashton Lenling, Jayce Lenling, Nolan Sparks, Nephew, Mickey Miller and Grandson-in-law, Brian Sparks.    

Memorial may be sent to Aberdeen Area Humane Society, PO Box 1013 or Ava’s House, c/o Sanford Health Foundation-SF, PO Box 5039, Sioux Falls, SD 57117-5039.

Carlsen Funeral Home and Crematory of Aberdeen has been entrusted with arrangements. 

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