Dorothy Rogers Wallace

Dorothy Rogers Wallace passed away August 24, 2016 after a short illness. She was born in Butte to Emma Esther Rogers and Richard Henry Rogers on November 10, 1917. As an infant, the family resided in Windham because her father was a fireman on the Lehigh to Windham run for the Great Northern. He was later transferred to the Great Falls division. She attended schools in Great Falls, graduating from Great Falls High in 1936. June 8th of this year was the 80th anniversary of her graduation; she attended this graduation ceremony where she and two other classmates were honored at the celebration. After graduating from school, she began her work career in a law office, and shortly after she got a job working for the City of Great Falls. She worked as secretary and bookkeeper for the City until the end of 1947. At the time she left employment, she was the highest paid lady working in the city offices. She met the love of her life, Earl before WWII started. They were married after the war on January 8, 1946, at the First Methodist Church. On January 15, 1948 she gave birth to her son, Gary. From the time Gary was born until he entered college, Dorothy was a stay-at-home mom. She was anything but idle during that time. She loved to cook, bake, can fruits, make jelly and jam, and tend her little flower bed that stretched around the house and out into the yard. She was very proud of the large garden Earl raised and worked in that with him. When Gary entered college, she was called by one her former bosses at the Civic Center. Fritz Norby, a former mayor and councilman, asked her to work in his insurance and real estate office; she consented and spent about fifteen years as Norby and Watsons bookkeeper. One day she walked into the office and announced that she was retiring and told the bosses that if they wanted to sit and look at each other that was fine, but she was retiring. That ended her work career and also closed the office. From that time on she devoted herself to her home activities and attended the many music concerts of the UGF and community bands, the Symphony and Broadway shows; she was especially fond of the band concerts Bud Nicholls presented every year. Her fervor for baking did not decrease through the years; Gary spent forty years teaching school and every day packed a lunch from home that contained fresh baked goodies-everyone around the lunch table used to watch to see what he had for dessert! She was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Earl; her parents; and various aunts and uncles. She is survived by her son, Gary, four nieces, May Lattin, her daughters and spouses, Trudy and John Rosenbaum, Marvilee and Bill Christopherson, Kris and Tom Jackson, and Melanie Lattin and Matt Gressard, Rita Gebo, her sons and spouses, Gary and Phyllis, Peter, Keith and Lisa, and daughter Perlene and Rick Lake, Luella Vogel, her son Eric and daughter Dana and husband Tim Krakowski, and Bonnie Pancich her husband Bob, and their daughter Kim and son Scott and wife Stephanie; and the nieces numerous children and grandchildren. Viewing will be held Sunday, August 28, 2016 at Schnider Funeral Home from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A celebration of Dorothys life held on Monday, August 29, 2016 at the Scottish Rite, 1304 13th St S, at 12:00 noon. Please bring your stories and reminisce. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Memorials may be made to the donors choice or to the Great Falls Municipal Band, P.O. Box 1894, Great Falls, MT 59403.