Dorothy Lutz

(Aug. 16, 2006)

Memorial services will be conducted Saturday, Aug. 26 at the First United Methodist Church at 1 p.m. for Dorothy Lee Lutz, 72, who died at Powell Valley Care Center Wednesday, Aug. 16 of complications from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

The youngest of three daughters, she was born in Powell Jan. 28, 1934, to Guiles Covell Lutz and Lora Francis (Scudder) Lutz. Her parents were homesteaders on the Willwood Division of the Shoshone Reclamation Project. The girls were their father’s laborers on the farm and learned how to work hard and do a good job.

Their mother always made sure the girls were dressed in her many sewing creations. Dorothy loved her parents very much and took care of them until their death.

She attended Powell schools, graduating from high school in 1952. In 1954, she went to work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Washington, D.C., as a clerk-typist for six months. She returned to Powell to attend Northwest Community College for a year and a half and then transferred to Greeley, Colo., where she earned her A.A. Degree.

She returned to Powell again and began working at NWC in the Business Office. At that time, she worked in the original college building which was next door to the present Powell High School Gym. She borrowed her father’s pickup to help with the move to the present Administration Building on campus where all offices and classes were held at the time. She was a very dedicated college employee and was employed at the college until her retirement in 1989.

She enjoyed her career, her family and taking care of her yard. Having never married nor had children of her own, she was always known as the “fun” aunt and spent ample time with her nieces and nephews.

Dorothy was a 62-year member of the First United Methodist Church of Powell.

Survivors include a sister, Jeanette Ryles of Billings, Mont.; brother-in-law, Wilbur Higgins of Powell; nieces, Lora Nordland of Powell, Brenda Adams (Denny) of Livingston, Mont., and Joy Cummings (Larry) of Green River; nephews, Terry Ryles (Kathy) of Belgrade, Mont., Jerry Higgins (Phyllis) of Powell and Mike Ryles (Vicky) of Livingston, Mont.; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews. They were all very dear to her.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Mary E. Higgins of Powell; and brother-in-law, Thomas L. Ryles, Jr. of Billings.

Burial of cremains will be at Crown Hill Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers are Thomas L. Ryles, Jr., Wilbur Higgins, Jerry Higgins, Terry Ryles, Mike Ryles and Dan Nordland.

For those who wish, memorials to Powell Valley Hospice or Northwest College would be appreciated by the family.

Thompson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.