Dorothy E. Ray, 93, of Hemingford died Friday, November 5, 2023, at Monument Health Rapid City Hospital. She was born February 17, 1930, in Hemingford to Milton (Pete) and Grace (White) Danbom. Dorothy attended school in a one room schoolhouse before attending Alliance High School. She lived with her aunts during the week in Alliance due to the lack of a family car when the family moved to the farm. She graduated from Alliance High School in 1947.
After graduation, Dorothy was employed at the Hemingford Ledger as an ad compositor and makeup artist, as well as operator of the big linotype setting most of the advertising copy, in addition to doing part-time sales work. On April 28, 1953, she was united in marriage to Charles E. Ray at St. Bridget Catholic church in Hemingford. Dorothy was a dedicated lifetime resident of Hemingford. She was the bookkeeper for Silver Line Salvage, a business that she and Charles operated together until it was sold in 2005. Dorothy also proudly owned Treasures and Trash, an antique and collectibles store located on the main street in Hemingford for many years. Dorothy was widely known for her wit and her willingness to volunteer. She taught swimming lessons for many years, despite not knowing how to swim when she was growing up. Later in life she learned to swim and trained to be a lifeguard so that the new town pool could open when they were short of lifeguards. She served as den mother for Troop 210 Den 4 and was a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Dorothy was a member of St. Bridget Catholic Church and was active in the altar society. Dorothy was known for being an avid sports fan and she loyally watched and cheered for the Cornhuskers, no matter what their record. She was also a big fan of college softball and women’s professional basketball watching the games on tv and closely following the rankings.
In July 2021 Dorothy suffered a fall at her home in Hemingford, requiring her to move to Good Samaritan St. Martin Village in Rapid City, SD for rehab and eventually to live in assisted living. She received excellent care from the staff at Good Samaritan and loved the interactions she had there with both the staff and the fellow residents. Even though she was living in Rapid City, she never forgot her home of Hemingford. She stayed subscribed to the local newspapers so that she would always know what was happening “back home”. She treasured the visits she received from her Hemingford friends while she was in assisted living.
Those left to cherish her memory include her sons Dan (Suzanne) Ray of Rapid City, SD and Jerry (Kimiko) Ray of Los Angeles, CA, her daughter Jodeen (Steve) Worth of Tahlequah, OK, her brother David (Beverly) Danbom of Kennesaw, GA, and her 9 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She was proceeded in death by her parents, husband Charles E. Ray, infant daughter Polly Ann, brother Alan Danbom and wife Alice, sister Norma Saling and husband Bill, sister Margaret Donnely and husband Lane, brother Bill Danbom and wife Margy, brother Paul Danbom and wife Barbara, brother-in-law Robert Ray and wife Blanche, sister-in-law Arlene Thompson and husband Leonard.
Interment will be in the Hemingford Cemetery at a later date. We will be inviting family and friends to the memorial when a date is set. Memorials may be given to the Hemingford Community Foundation, PO Box 444, Hemingford, NE 69348 or use the online link: https://otcf.org/hemingford-community-foundation/hemingford-community-foundation.html.