Dorothy Lorang

Dorothy "Dort" E. (Schroer) Lorang

GREAT FALLS —Dort Lorang, 89, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, December 27, 2014 in Great Falls.

Dort was born the second of seven children to S.J. "Smokey" and Jennie Schroer on Oct. 18, 1925, in Oregon City, Oregon. When she was 10, her family moved to Montana where her father worked for the Great Northern Railway. She attended St. Mary's Grade and High Schools, graduating in 1943, after which she worked for the McGregor Clinic and First National Bank. When her youngest son began high school, she found employment with the engineering firm Thomas, Dean & Hoskins, from which she retired as office manager 24 years later. Up until her death, she enjoyed attending company parties and visiting with all the friends she had made there over the years.

She married A.F. "Ally" Lorang, her high school sweetheart, at St. Ann's Cathedral on Nov. 6, 1945, when he was on leave from the Navy. After his honorable discharge in 1946, they made their home in Great Falls where they raised their four sons: James, Robert, Michael and Kenneth.

A longtime member of St. Gerard's Parish, Dorothy served in the Altar Society, as a member of Central High School Mothers Club, and as a Cub Scout Den Mother. More recently, she attended Our Lady of Lourdes Parish.

After retirement, Dort and Ally traveled extensively in a small RV around the U.S., including two treks to Alaska. Along the way, they discovered antiquing and collecting, perhaps one reason she partnered with two friends to sell her "finds" at the Bull Market Antique Mall.

But people were Dort's real passion. She had family and friends coming and going all the time, and if they could not visit in person, she was sure to stay in touch by phone, email or hand-typed letters. Her amazing capacity to remember all the details of peoples' lives will be missed by family who often called for an address or birthdate.

Survivors include two sons, Jim (Sue) Lorang, Great Falls and Mike (Dianne) Lorang of Littleton, CO; one daughter-in-law, Cindy (Keith) Aune, of Bozeman; three brothers, Bernard (Helen) Schroer of Escondido, CA, Don Schroer of Great Falls, and Jerry (Carol) Schroer, Albuquerque, NM; and one sister-in-law, Esther Schroer of Great Falls. She also leaves behind 11 grandchildren, Peggy Sue (Mike) Loroz, Sherry Lynn (Jeff) Dow, Larry (Lacy) Lorang, Mary Ann (Corey) Blair, Michelle (Paul) Nichterlein, Bart (Sarah) Lorang, Liz (Randolph Taylor) Lorang, Jenni (Bill) Rannow, Kennetta (Brian) Wasik, Brett (Amanda) Aune, and Dirk (Niki) Aune; 20 great-grandchildren, Marie, Beth, and Luke Loroz; Kalyn and Grady Dow; Jett and Livia Lorang; Tate and Owen Blair; Maya and Ty Nichterlein; Greyson Lorang; Eli, Tim, and Christopher Rannow; Trey and Ryland Aune; Micaiah Wasik; and Avianna and Draco Aune; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Dorothy was preceded in death by Ally, her husband of 60 years; son Bob and his wife Mary Jean (Grant) Lorang; son Ken; sister Dolores; brothers Bob and Larry Schroer; and parents Smokey and Jennie Schroer.

A visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Friday, January 2, 2015 at Schnider Funeral Home. A funeral liturgy will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 2, 2015 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church followed by a reception. A private interment will be on Saturday, January 3, 2015.

The family suggests that memorials be made to Peace Hospice, 1101 26th St. S., Great Falls, MT 59405, or a favorite charity.

Condolences for the family may be posted online at www.schniderfuneralhome.com.