Dorothy Elizabeth Esping

Dorothy Elizabeth Esping passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 9, 2006 in Ontario, Ore. of a ruptured aortic aneurysm.

She was born on May 12, 1921 on a farm near Elkton, S.D. to Louis Carl Rohrer and Christina H. Schulte Rohrer. May 12 was also the birth date of her father and uncle, and later, a granddaughter, Angela Volden.

The family moved to Sioux Falls in 1923 where Dorothy attended schools, married Albert Roy Gilman, Jr. and four children were born to the new family.

They moved to Boise, Idaho in 1950 with three children; Albert Roy Gilman III died as an infant in 1945.

Dorothy was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader in Sioux Falls Later, she was active with her husband Albert in Cub Scouts and Boys Scouts in Boise.

In 1959 Dorothy became a single parent, and with no skills (having never worked outside the home) she found an entry level position in the office of Morning Fresh Bakery which was bought out by Town and Country Bakery. She began night classes at Boise College studying accounting. She continued her education at the University of Wisconsin, BYU and several community colleges in the Seattle area. Education and learning was important, she believed that the more you knew the more you understood how much more there is to learn.

In 1967 Dorothy was in Seattle and went to work as manager-treasurer of Continental Can Credit Union.

It was there she met Roderick Esping. They married in 1988.

Dorothy and Rod enjoyed golf, dancing, gardening, fishing off the Washington Coast of Ilwaco and Westport, fishing at Campbell River, British Columbia and going to Foster High School football and basketball games, the high school Rod graduated from in Tukwila.

Whidbey Island was a favorite weekend place to visit, so it was only natural that they would build a cabin on Holmes Harbor where they could relax on the beach, swim, fish, go clamming and enjoy visits with their grandchildren and many friends. Rod had retired because of poor health so they moved to the island permanently in 1980. Here, Dorothy went to work for Skagit Valley Community College. She enjoyed the association with her students and kept in touch with many over the years since retiring in 1990.

Rod and Dorothy were members of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church on Whidbey Island, and after Rod died in 1993 she became active in church affairs as president of the ELCA and a member of the council.

Daughter Dawn’s husband Jim had died unexpectedly in March 1998 and Dorothy’s son Donald passed away in October 1998 of cancer. The following spring Dorothy had quad bypass heart surgery and in 2001, with her two daughters, she moved back to Idaho, locating in Parma.

In 1996 she realized a dream touring Europe seeing the house where her father was born, and worshiping in St. Nicholas Von Flue Catholic Church, the church of her ancestors in Sacheln, Switzerland.

When traveling Dorothy was always searching for information about family. She spent many hours on the Internet and mailing queries to other genealogy enthusiasts. Latch hook was a favorite craft, and she made wall hangings and rugs for many members of her family. She also enjoyed quilting and making felt Christmas stockings and almost every other craft project. She earned many bowling trophies and was proud to have been a member of the Classic Women’s League in Boise. Her favorite of all was reading and she always had a book or two with her when she was away from home in case she had to sit and wait for some reason.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands Rod Esping and Roy Gilman; brothers Lyle Walter Rohrer who was killed by a drunk driver in 1968, and Louis Carl Rohrer, Jr. in 1993; two sons, Albert Roy (Bobbie) Gilman III and Donald LeRoy Gilman.

Dorothy is survived by her daughters, Margaret Christine McCabe and Darline Dawn Rash, both at the family home in Parma; eight grandchildren; Vicque Ebentheuer, Boise; Jim and Dianne Sims, Buckeye, Ariz.; Mark and Brenda Thomas, Newton, Iowa; Kevin and Angela Volden, Helena, Mont.; Vern Stillwell, Walla Walla, Stephen and Nicole Bradbury, Harrisburg, Ore.; Steven and Melanie Audette, Portland, Ore.; 17 great-grandchildren and two great-great-granddaughters; a brother, Lloyd J. Rohrer in Battle Mountain, Nev. and several nieces and nephews.

Dorothy was a member of the Ladies Eagle Auxiliary, Women of the Moose and Rebekahs.

There will be no services at her request and she will be laid to rest with Rod in Renton.