Dorothy Burgett

Dorothy Burgett, 75, longtime resident of Moses Lake, passed away Thursday, April 22, 2004 after a lengthy illness at SunBridge Care Center.

She was born March 31, 1929 in Duluth, Minn. to Elmer and Christine Ellestad and spent her childhood in Backus and Pine River, Minn. After graduating high school, Dorothy attended business college in Chicago, Ill.

She married Emery Waltz in 1956 and in 1958 had her only child, Wendy. A few years later, she divorced and moved to Seattle, Wash., then to Moses Lake, Wash. in 1964. Dorothy worked for the Columbia Basin Herald for many years in the advertising department.

She worked very hard to raise her daughter alone. Besides a full-time job, Dorothy also sold Vanda Beauty Counselor skin care and cosmetics, and later added Yellow Ribbon thermoserve to her side jobs.

In 1974, Dorothy married Wayne Burgett and they divorced in 1977.

She began working for Western Farmers, which turned into Cenex. She retired from Cenex in 1991.

Dorothy always tried to remember people's birthdays and anniversaries. She loved "puttsing" with things during any spare time she had and was always busy. She traveled to Mississippi, North Carolina, Hawaii and Minnesota. Her favorite thing that she looked forward to was the family "get-togethers."

Dorothy is survived by: a daughter, Wendy Swindoll; two sisters, Dolores Strellner of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Margie Meyers of Brainerd, Minn.; one brother, Don Ellestad of Mesquite, Nev.; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and many aunts, uncles and cousins. She is now in heaven with them all and they are having a "get-together" in the clouds.

Kayser's Chapel of Memories and Crematorium is in charge of arrangements. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, her daughter requests that donations be made in Dorothy's name to the Immanuel Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 1020 South A Street, Moses Lake, WA 98837.