Dorothy Vera Sprenger

Dorothy Vera Sprenger went to be with the Lord, on March 23, 2024, after a brief illness, but a long acquaintance with cancer which she fought with the same feisty nature she was known for. She was born in Vandalia, Illinois 93 years ago in February. A long-time resident of Phoenix, Az, she had in recent years moved to Idaho.

She met her husband Alfred Sprenger while attending a Christian college in California and they fell madly in love and decided to marry. They moved to Arizona, and a couple of years later they started their family. After her children were mostly grown, Dottie took up oil painting and eventually began to sell them through the Firebird artist’s shows. She traveled the Southwest with her family visiting the missions for subject matter for her paintings. She was friends with other artists such as Don Ruffin and Ted DeGrazia.

Her husband Al preceded her to heaven in October of 2016. They were loving parents of 5 children -- their son Paul was the first to be with the Lord as a toddler. Dana McNeely is their oldest daughter, a Christian author living in Glendale, AZ with her husband Mike. Carla Bonney is a realtor in the Coeur D’Alene, ID area, with her husband Warren, a General contractor. Holly Held is a Christian blogger who teaches Bible weekly to a women’s group online, married to Jason. Her late husband Gilbert loved Dottie dearly and is now with the Lord and other family believers. Alana and her husband Todd Ibe live in Boise, ID and work in financial services. Dottie is also survived by her sister Alleen Walker and brother Allen Logsdon.

Dottie and Al were very active with Bethany Bible church starting in the day where the church was held in fellowship hall with about 50 people with Dr. John Mitchell. They were involved in the Sunday School keeping their children active in all the children’s programs and because of their faithfulness, (thank the Lord), all of their children are believers. Faith comes by hearing the Word (Romans 10:17; 2 Tim 3:14-15).

Dottie was the consummate party planner, hosting church dinners and Bible studies in their home. She was always thinking of something new and creative to include with food, fun and fellowship. She was a dynamic leader for a woman in her era, always teaching us we could do anything we wanted while tempering it with the wisdom found in His Word.

While not having a lot of money, our mom thought of a myriad of ways to keep us kids busy. Trips to the Library to check out books or listen to Story time, see exhibits at the Heard Museum or attend street parades. Many fond moments of gathering for a slapstick family movie night curled up at the feet of our parents king-sized bed. We’d split a large frozen Hershey’s almond bar, at times accompanied by some buttered popcorn. Memories of trips to SAS fabric store, Lerner’s lay-away’s, or the goodwill on their quarter days for a pair of shorts (or some jeans to cut off). Packing up for Encanto park where we would picnic then feed the ungrateful ducks (who sometimes chased us for some of our crumbs). Always keeping us busy. Reading, playing, cooking, cleaning, were a normal part of each day. But she thought of art projects, whether painting, or making pictures incorporating pieces of a broken necklace, yarn, dried corn or peas -- whatever else might be found in the junk drawer. If we had earned a little money doing additional chores, we might get dropped off for a swim on a hot day at the Sunnyslope pool. Really special Sundays were a stop at Bob’s Big Boy after church, or more rarely, a nighttime trip to Mary Coyle’s ice cream parlor for a butter brickle Sunday with salted cashews and caramels.

So many wonderful memories of family time together. Church family camps, trips with family friends, Backyard camping. Vacations to see Grandma’s, Grandpa’s, and cousins in California. The heat would be dissipating as we listened to ‘The Shadow knows’ along the way, (until the radio reception finally crackled out in the desert).

Mom had many grandchildren and great grandchildren all over the country – they all loved our Mom dearly. She was full of spunk, ideas, wise advice and fun. She could keep up with the youngest grandchild, walking at a fast clip, often wearing them out. Dottie was very close to each and every one of her grandchildren and stayed in touch with them all. They visited and called her on a regular basis. Krista, Megan, David (Dana); LeShea, Titus, Paris, Wyeth, Royce, Zhivonna, McCally, Jene’, Shadon (Carla); Adam, Greer, Tierney, Gillienne, Gifford, Baylie, Jessup, Koby, Garrett and Mitchell (Holly); Brielle (Alana). And she also became a G.G. (Great Grandma) to many.

Our parents became short-term missionaries in their senior years, which became a great passion. Traveling to over 80 countries with dental, medical and evangelical missions. Many of their friends from their Berean Bible class at Bethany Bible church shared in their ministry through prayer, support -- some going with them on missions to tell others about Jesus so they too could be saved. Think about this--it is very likely they are seeing some of the harvest up in heaven.

They so loved doing this. When our dad went to be with the Lord, Mom continued visiting places in the US as well as Honduras, Nicaragua, Uruguay and a few other places. In her last trips she took some of her kids and grandkids with her. Mom loved sharing with others how they could know where they would go when they died. Even to the end of her life, she volunteered at hospitals (stuffing bears) and shared the good news at Senior Care facilities. Their greatest desire was that others might come to know Him and be saved.

So with that, we share one of her favorite passages from the Bible:

Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”

All religions offer a plan of good works to reach God. However, we can’t be saved by any works of our own. And our sins, well, the wages are death – and we know we all are sinners (Rom 3:23; Rom 6:23). The best person in the world cannot be good enough to approach a Holy and pure God.

The good news is, Jesus paid for all of our sins on His cross (Col 2:13-15), so there is nothing left to pay for. He rose again from the dead, just as He said He would, (John 10:17-18). He overcame death, guaranteeing all believers eternal life. He had the power over sin, death and the grave (1 Cor 15:3-4; 50-58). Not one good work can be added to the free gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23).

He has asked us all to just believe upon Him as our Savior, and in so doing, to be given total forgiveness for all sins we have done, (or ever will do). After all, He paid for them all before you and I were ever born. Nothing else is required in order to be saved from separation from Him forever in a place called hell. A place where none of the good things you have ever known in life will be. He loves you and doesn’t want that for even one person (2 Pet 3:9).

In great love, Jesus died for you, in your place. And He died for Dottie and Al who believed on Him and are now experiencing the face-to-face reality of eternal life with Jesus (1 Cor 13:12; 2 Cor 5:8). He gave His life willingly so that you might live with Him forever. When you believe upon Him as your Savior, He gives you the gift of His Righteousness, the free gift of eternal life, and the Holy Spirit to dwell with you forever (John 14:16-17; Rom 6:23; Eph 1:13; 4:30). This is how God will see you forever when you believe.

Jesus made all us who believe upon Him a lot of promises. He says for those who have trusted in Him (alone apart from any works of our own), that He will never lose us, never cast us out and never forsake us. We shall never come into condemnation, nor ever will we be separated from His love. No one can bring a charge against us. We shall never perish (or die eternally). We can know now that we have eternal life that will never be lost.*

Dottie knows this truth face to face now (1 Cor. 13:12). Would you like to see Dottie and Al again, or some of your loved ones who believed?

Then, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved’ (Acts 16:31).

The moment she took her last breath, Dottie was present with her Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8).

Zoom Memorial services may be held online in the future, feel free to contact Holly at this memorial link for Dottie if you’d like to know more and be included.

https://redeemingmoments.com/2024/03/23/eye-has-not-seen-nor-ear-heard/

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written:

“For Your sake we are killed all day long;

We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39

*All the Bible verses mentioned above but not listed; in order (John 15:13; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; John 10:17-18; Romans 5:17; Luke 11:13; Ephesians 1:13-14; John 14:16; John 10:28-29; John 6:37; Hebrews 13:5; Psalm 37:25,28; John 5:24; John 3:18; Romans 8:24, 31-39. John 3:15-18; John 11:25-27, 1 John 5:9-13).