Dorothy Helen (Steelman) Groff

Dorothy Helen (Steelman) Groff went to her Heavenly reward on February 16th at Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake. Dorothy was born January 15, 1925, in Richland, Oregon, to Conrad Jefferson (C.J.) and Erna (Decker) Steelman. She was the youngest of three children. She attended school in Richland and found the man of her life, Morris Groff, there. They were married August 18, 1939, in Weiser, Idaho, and spent the first few years of their married life in Richland. All three of their children were born there. They moved to Unity, Oregon, to live on a cattle ranch for a short time, then Dorothy’s father purchased raw farm land in the Block 40 area of Moses Lake and they all moved there in the fall of 1951. Before long, many other family members moved to the Moses Lake area to farm, also. It was a hard life of picking up rocks, grubbing sagebrush and killing rattle snakes, but the families soon had green fields. It was while they lived there that Mom worked for a short time at the IGA grocery store, then started driving school bus, which lasted for 35 years! Dad decided he wanted his own land after about three years so he bought a farm in Block 42 and farmed there for several years before buying a farm in the Lind Coulee area. Mom continued driving school bus in Block 42. They moved from there to Potato Hill Road when Dad retired and lived there until 1988, when Mom moved to Cascade Valley. By this time Dad was in a nursing home. Mom sold that home in 2006 because of declining health and lived in various homes after that.

Mom was baptized into the Christian Church at the age of eleven and was an active member of the Christian Church in Moses Lake for many years. Most recently, she attended the Evangelical Methodist Church until her health prevented that.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband Morris, both parents, sister Louise (Soden) Shuh, brother Alaric Steelman, granddaughter Stephanie (Groff) Juligay, and several nieces & nephews. She is survived by her sons and their spouses, David (Edie) Groff of Othello and Wayne (Sondra) Groff of Sequim, and daughter Barbara (Bill) Sharp of Moses Lake, as well as 12 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by one nephew, Emmett (Peggy) Soden in Moses Lake, as well as a nephew and wife in California, and several nieces and nephews in Moses Lake and Idaho.

Mom was well loved by many, especially the kids that rode her bus for many years, some for all of their school years. When it came to the time she was going to be carrying grandkids of the first generation, she decided it was time to turn in her keys after 35 years! She also was an avid bowler and had many friends through bowling. She had a special friend, John, which traveled with her on many wonderful trips. They were very creative and made beautiful wooden clocks and many other items, as well.

Dorothy had a great sense of humor and kept it until the end. We will miss her greatly but are looking forward to a great reunion some day in Heaven. We want to thank all of those who gave Mom special love and care in the last few years.

There will be a graveside service for family and close friends on Friday, February 19th at 10:00 at Pioneer Memorial Gardens, followed by a memorial service at the Peninsula Evangelical Methodist Church, 2403 W. Texas Street, Moses Lake.

The family suggests in lieu of flowers that memorials be made in Dorothy’s name to the Peninsula Evangelical Methodist Church.

Arrangements are under the direction of Scharbach’s Columbia Funeral Chapel in Quincy. Please sign the guest book or leave a note for the family at www.scharbachs.com.