GATES, Dorothy Lucille (Hanisch), 79, was born on June 24, 1938 in Humboldt, South Dakota, to Frank P. Hanisch and Verna (Rathman Pippett) Hanisch. She passed away on Wednesday, June 20, 2018, in Surprise, Arizona, just four days shy of her 80th birthday. Dorothy attended grade school at St. Anne's Catholic School and graduated from Humboldt High School in 1956. On September 15, 1956 she married the man of her dreams her soulmate, Eugene "Gene" Gates at St. Christine's Catholic Church in Parker, South Dakota. They started their life together in Moorehead, Minnesota, then to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where Dorothy worked for the State of Wyoming. She and Gene started their family together in Wyoming with the births of Teresa "Terri", Christine "Christie", and Keith, before moving to Parker, South Dakota, where Todd was born to complete their beautiful family. In 1970, the family moved to Elk Point, South Dakota, until retirement took them to Surprise, Arizona as winter visitors...or "snow birds". Dorothy loved spending time with her family, grandchildren and friends over the years, and enjoyed snowmobiling, golfing, boating, traveling, going on ski-trips, playing cards (especially a good game of bridge), and being a part of the Hanisch family Christmas parties. She was blessed with 53 nieces and nephews on the Hanisch side and six on the Gates side. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Verna (Rathman Pippett) Hanisch; her father-in-law and mother-in-law Gilbert and Doris (Stephen) Gates; siblings, Frank Hanisch, Marvin (Helen) Hanisch, Donna (Rudy) Abild, Chuck Hanisch, Mary Lou Nicolson, Gary (Betty) Hanisch, Loren Hanisch, Rita (Gene) Boy; brothers-in-law George Redenius, and Vincent (Mary Ann) Gates; sisters-in-law, Jan Hanisch, Laura Hanisch, and Darlene (Arnie) Miller; and daughter-in-law, Deb (Hilton) Gates. Dorothy is survived by her beloved husband, Gene; loving children, Terri (Mike) Traxinger of Houghton, South Dakota, Christie (Chris) Bretz of Chandler, Arizona, Keith (Cindy) Gates of Elk Point, South Dakota, and Todd (Cindy) Gates, of Rapid City, South Dakota; grandchildren, Cortney (Adam) Salmen of Preston, United Kingdom, Michael Traxinger of Houghton, South Dakota, Aubryn (James) Thompson of Belmont, North Carolina, Trevor Kayl (Lauren Downey) of Fort Collins, Colorado, Brittney (Brandon) Bulson of Claremont, South Dakota, Andrew Gates of Belmont, North Carolina, Kelsey (Jacob) Smedley of Dorr, Michigan, Jessica (AJ) Walker of Vermillion, South Dakota, Sydney Gates of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Nicholas Nitzschke of Elk Point, South Dakota; great-grandchildren, Owen Allen Thompson of Belmont, North Carolina, Avery Wilder Salmen of Preston, United Kingdom, and Rylee Jo Bulson of Claremont, South Dakota; siblings, Leo Hanisch (Glenda Koel) of Brandon, South Dakota, Marcene Redenius of Humboldt, South Dakota, Lorraine Johnson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Terry (Linda) Hanisch of Brandon, South Dakota, Bob (Robyn) Hanisch of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Vicky (Stan) Shaw of Hartford, South Dakota; and sister-in-law, Phyllis Hanisch of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A Catholic Funeral Mass celebrating Dorothy's life will be held at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Humboldt, South Dakota, on Saturday, July 14, 2018, at 10:30 AM. A Visitation will be held on Friday, July 13, 2018, at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Humboldt, South Dakota, from 5:00 PM until 6:30 PM, with a Prayer Service at 6:30 PM. To sign the guestbook online, and to share your memories and send your condolences and well-wishes to the family, please visit, www.surprisefuneralcare.com.
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