Dorothy Elaine Ries Drain

A sweet and gentle soul has left her earthly bonds to reside in a better place, joining other family members including her husband, Hank. Our mother, grandmother, great-grandma, sister and friend left us on March 16, 2012, a warm, sunny day. She will be forever missed, but will live on in the lives and loves she created.

Dorothy Elaine Ries Drain was born on March 4, 1927, to Nicholas Ries and Irene Bisbee Ries. She was the second of four children and adored her older sister Geraldine and little brother Nick. She didn't get to know her baby sister Mary Frances as she passed away only a few days after her birth.

Dorothy was a "Fratt Brat" and graduated from Senior High in 1944. She has been blessed to keep in touch with her many classmates and looked forward to the lunches she shared with them.

Dorothy graduated from nurse's training in 1947. She loved telling stories about her single days as a young RN. At a dance, she met her future husband Henry Drain, and they were married on Jan. 8, 1949. Eleven months later, their only son Don was born on Nov. 27. He was followed by four girls: Connie, Patty, Cathy and Sally.

Our mom loved to dance, travel and eat out! She never missed an opportunity to eat out with family and friends. In fact, Dorothy celebrated her 85th birthday two weeks ago surrounded by her whole family. And what a family she helped to create!

Dorothy was preceded in death by her beloved daughter Pattie, who passed away almost 20 years to the day of Mom. She was also preceded by her much loved husband, Hank in March of 1994 and son-in-law, Bruce Waggener.

She is lovingly survived by her son Don, wife Marva and their children Jenni, Jahna and Bubba; daughter Connie (Bruce) and their children, Allison (her husband Darren) and Brandon (wife Brittney); granddaughter Whitney Bates (daughter of Pattie) and her husband Eddie; daughter Cathy Koschel (husband Ray) and their children Caitlin Holzheimer (Seth) and Christopher; daughter Sally (husband Tim) Paulson and their children Chelsea, Reese, Kade and Tieg. She is also survived by brother Nick Ries (wife Doris) and 13 great-grandchildren.

A special thank you to Dr. Sorenson for his 25 years of care, Mandi and the night staff at St. Vincent's and Chaplain Ashlea.

In honor of our mother, please dish yourself up a big bowl of ice cream and enjoy the day. Viewing will be held at Smith Downtown Funeral Home, Tuesday from 5 to 9 p.m. Services will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Holy Rosary Church. Interment of ashes will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. at Mountview Cemetery.

Dorothy Drain

Dorothy Drain