Dorothy Slaymaker, age 91 of Belle Plaine, formerly of Marengo, died Wednesday evening, May 4, 2005 at the Belle Plaine Nursing and Rehab Center following an extended illness. Funeral Services: 2:00 P.M. Saturday, May 7, 2005, Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo with Rev. Reva Rimmer officiating. Burial will be in the Ohio Cemetery, rural Ladora. Friends may call from 5 to 8 P.M. Friday, May 6, 2005 at the funeral home. A memorial fund has been established.

She is survived by two daughters, Janice K. Edwards and husband Ronald of Conroy, and K. “Kathy” Joyce Wiebold of Marion; 7 grandchildren, Patricia McClure (Tom) of Williamsburg, Diania Graves (Jerry) of Victor, Janelle Ohmstede (David) of Newton, Tony Wiebold (Wendy), Beverly Wellner (Terry), Dwayne Wiebold (Tami) and Teresa Ellerby (Jeffrey); 11 great-grandchildren, one step-grandchild; nieces, Lois Mae Johnson, Lucille Stockman, Wilma Kinney and Theresa Bigbee; two nieces-in-law, Velma Nigg and Evelyn Benedict, and a special nephew, Rawson Gorsch and wife Alice of Cedar Rapids.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Merritt Slaymaker, two daughters Mary Ann and Peggy Lou in infancy; a brother Frank, three sisters, Martha Schroeder, Mildred Nigg and Jennie Strayhan; and two sons-in-law, Roy Wiebold in 1995 and Dale Wiebold in 1985, and two nephews, William Nigg and Warren Allen.

Dorothy Lou Allen was born January 14, 1914 in rural Benton County, the daughter of Link and Lois Ann Brown Allen. She attended Stuckenbruck School in Benton County and attended Belle Plaine High School. She married J.F. Merritt Slaymaker on November 3, 1932 at the Methodist Parsonage in Marengo. The couple farmed for 35 years southwest of Ladora. Dorothy was a homemaker and mother, who enjoyed quilting, needlework, gardening, and various crafts. She also enjoyed traveling and accompanied her nephew, Rawson and his wife to Hawaii. When Merritt died in 1976, Dorothy moved to Ladora and then to Marengo to live with her daughter Janice and their family pet, Spiker, a Chihuahua dog. She has made her home at the Belle Plaine Nursing and Rehab Center since 1999.

Dorothy attended the Koszta United Methodist Church, and was a member of the Methodist Ladies Aid, Marengo Busy Bees Sewing Club, and Victor Women’s TOPS Club. She also attended the Ladora monthly potluck dinners, and morning coffees. She enjoyed games of UNO and dominoes. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, family and friends.