DOROTHY MARY KEMPER was born May 8, 1912, in Verboort, Oregon, the daughter of William A. and Anne Mary (Van Dyke) Vandervelden. She was raised and received her education in the Verboort community, having attended Visitation School.
She was united in marriage to William T. "Bill" Kemper on October 6, 1931 in the Visitation Catholic Church in Verboort. Following their marriage, they made their home in Vernonia for two years until 1933 when they returned to the Verboort community, where she had resided since. Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, on August 9, 1995 at Portland, after celebrating over sixty-three years of marriage.
Dorothy was a homemaker. She was a lifelong member of the Visitation Parish, having been active with the Catholic Daughters and Altar Society. Dorothy worked for many years on various committees for the Verboort Sausage Dinner. She was a member of A.A.R.P., having organized travel trips for ten years.
Among her interests, Dorothy enjoyed dancing and was a member of the Western Club, a dance club. She also enjoyed flowers and traveling with her friends at A.A.R.P. She had a special love for her family, especially her many grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Cecelia Crop; a son, Nolan Kemper; and a daughter, Joyce Giesbers.
Dorothy died Monday morning, May 5, 1997 at her home. She is survived by four daughters and sons-in-law, Jean M. and Robert Lepschat of Banks; Sharon G. and Denis Giesbers of Verboort; Carolyn F. and Charles Chapman of Granite Falls, Washington; and Charlene Flowers of Banks; a daughter-in-law, Rosemary Kemper-Riddock of Banks; a son-inlaw, Anthony "Bud" Giesbers of Forest Grove; a brother-in-law, Gerald Kemper of Hillsboro; and a sister-in-law, Bernice Jesse of Hillsboro.
Also surviving are twenty grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
****************************************
The family suggests that remembrances may be contributions to the Visitation School Endowment Fund, 4189 NW Visitation Road, Forest Grove, Oregon 97116, in her memory.
Family and friends are invited to attend a reception immediately following the cemetery rites, to be held in the Parish Center at the church.