Dorothy (Whiting) Stai

Dorothy Stai died Friday, August 31, 2018 at Luther Haven Nursing Home at the age of 93.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, September 6, 2018 at 10:30am at Trinity Lutheran Church in Montevideo with Rev. Jeff Fitzkappes officiating.  Burial will be at Terrace Lawn Memory Gardens.  Visitation with the family will be one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday.

Dorothy Alice (Whiting)  Stai was born on September 17, 1924 in her family’s farmhouse on Whiting Road just north of Bemidji, MN to Ora and Ruth (Anderson) Whiting.  She was the youngest child, with four older brothers and a sister.  Her sister died of pneumonia at the age of 18 when Dorothy was just 2 and she regretted that she didn’t get to know her.

Dorothy was a very good student and she graduated salutatorian in her high school class.  She met Conrad Stai while acting in a community play together.  Their roles were of husband and wife.  She was united in marriage to Conrad on July 20, 1941 and they were married for over 75 years.   From this union four children were born, Dee Ann, Harlan, Gerald and Roger.

Throughout Dorothy’s life, she was involved in many church activities, teaching Sunday school, providing food and baked goods for many occasions.  She was a very good seamstress, making clothing for her family and hundreds of quilts for church and family over the years.  She excelled at hardanger embroidery and knitting.  She had a wonderful singing voice and sang her young children to sleep every night and woke them up each morning with a lovely rendition of Reveille.  Dorothy was charming and witty, always having a punch line for any conversation.  She was an excellent cook.  She prepared delightful dinners for her family and was a wonderful hostess.  Along with her sewing projects, she loved to read and do crossword puzzles and cryptograms.  She had great wisdom as well and was a great guide for her family.

Dorothy is survived by her children: Dee Ann Davis, Harlan (Dian) Stai, Gerald (Mary) Stai, and Roger (Stephanie) Stai; grandchildren: Bryan Ray, Aaron (Sarah) Stai,  Deborah Carson, Steven (Brandy) Stai, Allison (Jed Steward) Stai, Martha Stai, Brian (Kathryn) Stai, and Charles Stai, great-grandchildren: Emerson, Tate, Megan, Lauren, Kaitlyn, Chris, LeeAnn, and Mary; great-great grandchildren: Mackenzie, CJ, Elwood, and Milo; and brother-in-law, George (Betty) Stai.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ora and Ruth; her husband, Conrad on February 2, 2017; and her siblings: Jay (Sylvia), Donovan (Alfreda), Agnes, Lloyd (Carolyn) and Robert.