Dorothy “Dottie” Hiel, age 88, of Helena

We laid to rest Dottie, Mom, Grandma, and Great Grandma on 9/24/2018; to help her in her travels we sent her off with the “Jack of Diamonds” and Frank Sinatra. Dorothy was all those things and more, but mostly the loving wife of her husband Fritz for almost 70 years. Born in Chicago, Illinois, November 30, 1929 to her Swedish parents, Rut and Nels Larson, Dorothy grew up in the city which turned out to be just the right place.  On a beach along Lake Michigan Dorothy found a young sailor who was just looking for a sandwich and maybe a date.  The sandwiches must have been great for the two were shortly married.  Married in May of 1949, Fritz and Dorothy have been together ever since.

Dorothy had many jobs during her younger years, but her most important one was raising seven children. Moving from the city to the new suburb of Meadowdale, a new life began with new friends, a new home, and children, and so the family grew.  Between the task of raising kids, Dorothy was active in the Catholic Church and local community theater, acting in several productions.  She followed her kids through the many school activities, sporting events, weddings and, finally, moves to Montana.  There she began the next phase of her life, enjoying Montana, her family, and the new experience of being a great grandparent, and especially her new found friends with the YMCA swimming gals. Just shy of her 89th birthday and her 70 years of marriage to Fritz, Dottie (as Fritz called her), suffered a stroke in August, one that was too much for her and she never recovered.  We will miss her deeply, our mother, wife, grandma, and great grandma, she was a classy lady with a heart of gold.

She was preceeded in death by her parents, Nels and Rut Larson, and her brother Richard Larson of California.

Survived by her husband, Fritz, son, Michael and Debra, son, Jeffery and Terry, daughter, Madelyn and Ken Thomas – all from Helena – daughter, Lisa and Mark Kolkovich, son, Matthew and Renee from Georgia, daughter, Julie Meyer from Illinois, and daughter, Christine and Bode Gann from Alabama

Grand children, Sarah Linden, Peter Hiel, Lauren Maness, Carly Thomas, Kaylee Hiel, Jackie Hiel, Brittney Chandler – all from Helena – Richard Kolkovich from Colorado, Emilie Meyer, Malarie Meyer, Jacob, Miranda Engel, from Illinois, Tori Hiel, Amanda Calvo, Emily Adams, from Georgia, Zack Engel, Evan Gann from Alabama. Great Grand Children, Henry, Adela, Kadyen, McKenzie, Kennedy, Riely, Trevor, Daxyn, Scarlett, Arthur, Lyndon, Alexander

We would like to thank St. Peter’s Hospital for the excellent care given, Apple Cooney for the hard working and caring staff, and, especially, Frontier Hospice for their compassionate and thoughtful staff who’s help with Mom’s last days were immeasurable. Donations are suggested to Frontier Hospice of Helena.

A Funeral Mass celebrating their lives will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 at the Cathedral of St. Helena, 530 N. Ewing St. in Helena. Rite of Committal for Fritz and Dottie will be held at Montana State Veterans Cemetery following Mass. A reception will follow the burial at the Carolina Bed and Breakfast, 309 N. Ewing St. in Helena. In lieu of flowers, memorials in honor of Fritz and Dottie are suggested to the Friendship Center, 1430 Sanders St., Helena, MT 59601, or Angel Fund, P.O. Box 7436, Helena, MT 59604 or Frontier Home Health and Hospice, 800 Front St., Helena, MT 59601.

In lieu of flowers to our family, please send flowers to someone in your family and tell them how much you love them.

Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Dorothy.

Service Schedule

Funeral Mass

12:00 p.m.

Wednesday June 26, 2019

Cathedral of St. Helena

530 N. Ewing St.

Helena, Montana 59601

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Graveside Service

Following Mass

Wednesday June 26, 2019

Montana State Veterans Cemetery

Heroe's Road

Fort Harrison, Montana

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Reception

Following the graveside service

Wednesday June 26, 2019

Carolina Bed & Breakfast

309 N Ewing St

Helena, Montana 59601

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