Dorothy Tillman

Dorothy Tillman, 98, of Milbank, SD, passed away on Monday, February 12, 2024, at St. William's Care Center in Milbank. 
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, February 19, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Charles Catholic Church in Big Stone City, SD. Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 18, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Mundwiler Funeral Home in Milbank with a Vigil Service and Rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Padre David Garza will celebrate the Mass, and interment will be at Mound Cemetery in Ortonville, MN. 
The service will be livestreamed and recorded and will be viewable at the bottom of this page.
Dorothy Emma-Sophia LaCombe was born to Benjamin and Dora (Brandt) LaCombe on October 28, 1925, in Detroit, Michigan. When Dorothy was a baby, the family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1929, they moved to the LaCombe homestead along the Minnesota River in Lac qui Parle County.  
As a child, Dorothy spent many hours in imaginative play among the large granite outcroppings where the cattle were pastured. She began school in Odessa, Minnesota, and later transferred to and graduated from Ortonville High School. In the spring of her senior year, her father drowned in the flooding waters of the river while he was trying to get the cattle back across the river.  
Dorothy started working for the superintendent in the school office when she was a senior and continued that job after graduation. She and a friend rented rooms from an older lady in Ortonville. They would go to movies, bowling, and to dances at Chautauqua Park in Big Stone City, South Dakota. It was there she caught the eye of a young man who had recently returned from being deployed to the European Theater in WWII. And you know what can happen when a young gal catches the eye of a young guy? On November 21, 1946, Dorothy married Vincent Tillman at St. Charles Parish in Big Stone City. The young couple began life together on a farm west of Big Stone City. In 1955, they moved to a farm on Otrey Lake, northeast of Ortonville, Minnesota, where they raised the four children they had been blessed with: Charlotte, Marianne, Donald, and Duane.  
Vince and Dorothy met on a dance floor and made many more rounds on local dance floors. They also enjoyed playing cards on weekends until all hours of the morning with neighbors while all the kids played.  
Dorothy worked at home on the farm while she and Vincent raised the family. She planted a large garden and preserved the bounty to feed the family. Little was needed from a grocery store, aside from staples like flour and sugar, because they had their own meat and milk. When the family sat down for a meal, nearly everything had been prepared by Dorothy. In 1979, they retired from the farm and moved to Big Stone City.  
Dorothy was a good seamstress and sewed many clothes for the children and herself, and she enjoyed doing assorted types of craft projects. She was very active in the V.F.W. Auxiliary for many years, holding various offices including president for four years and treasurer for many years. In 1975, she was the Unit 3964 delegate to the state convention. Since she was good at organizing, for many years, she was in charge of organizing the annual Veteran’s Day Dinner put on by the Auxiliary.  
Dorothy helped the kids with 4-H projects, giving advice, suggesting how to make a project better for entry at the county fair, and was probably the reason they were able to snag a few blue ribbons.  
Dorothy had a strong faith and was active in her church, teaching CCD, helping with church dinners, and was a member of the women’s organizations. She was also a Benedictine Oblate at Blue Cloud Abbey.  
Vince and Dorothy were active members of the National Farmers Organization, and in 1975, Dorothy was the delegate from Minnesota District 6 to the National Convention. 
After the children all moved into homes of their own, she went to work for Lila Benson during tax season and spent several years doing tax preparation for people. 
Vincent passed away on June 30, 1987. A few years later, Dorothy met Fran Benkofske, whose wife had also passed away. Since both had children in the Kansas City area, they would travel together to visit their children a couple times a year. This friendship also gave Dorothy the opportunity to take a cruise to Alaska with Fran’s daughter. Dorothy had never been on a plane before and definitely had reservations about flying. Plus, she needed to get a passport. In the end, she overcame her reservations, made the trip, had a great time, and was glad she got up the nerve to get on that plane.  
Missing her is her daughter, Charlotte Athey; sons: Donald (Vicky) Tillman, and Duane (JoAnn) Tillman; grandchildren: Sean (Lynette) Athey, Cheryl (John) Pocklington, Kristine (Jason) Wurtz, Keith Athey, Matthew Athey, Jason Stovall, Brock (Wendy) Tillman, Brandee (Jesse) Klatt, Chad (Chelsay Baugh) Tillman, Eric Tillman, Sara Johnson, and Kari (Jake) Finberg; great-grandchildren: Michael, Forest, Abigail, Jeremiah, Joesphine, Dylan, Jayden, Keaton, Tyler, Bailee, Sebaztian, Madixx, Devyn, Vincent, Cadin, and Keaira; great-great-grandchildren: Suzaku, Sakura, Remus, Dorian, Draven, and Norris; sister-in-law, Phyllis Peloquin; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. 
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; daughter, Marianne Stovall; son-in-law, Elmer Athey; great-grandsons: Brett and Hunter Tillman; sister, Louise Mortenson; and special friend, Fran Benkofske.  

This obituary was lovingly written by Dorothy's family.