Obit: Heldt, Dorothy Lois (1916 - 2007)

Transcribed by: Crystal Wendt

Surnames: Hickey, Kingsley, Grans, Grefe, Faufau, Nyberg, Cortright, Wright

---Source: Foto News (Merrill, Lincoln Co., Wis.) Wednesday, 24 Oct. 2007; Page 10

---Heldt, Dorothy Lois (29 Aug. 1916 - 17 Oct. 2007)

Dorothy L. Heldt

Longtime Merrill resident Dorothy L. Heldt passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007. The former Dorothy Lois Hickey was born Aug. 29, 1916, in Tomahawk, daughter of the late Robert and Katherine Kingsley Hickey. They later moved to Merrill where she graduated from Merrill High School in 1933. Dorothy continued her education at the Lincoln County Normal School and graduated from Stevens Point State Teachers College. Following this, she taught in a one-room school in Wilson Township. Dorothy married Fred R. Heldt on Oct. 26, 1935, in Bessemer, Mich. She was employed for 20 years as president and CEO of the Bondshire Employees Credit Union, retiring in 1985. After her retirement she worked as a Welcome Wagon Hostess for five years in the Merrill area until 1990.

Her involvement and dedication to the credit union movement spanned a total of 37 years, from 1954 to 1991; she served as treasurer of the Wisconsin Valley Chapter of Credit Unions and as a director of Park City Credit Union. She was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church, Merrill, and served as president of the Catholic Women's Club. Other affiliations include the Professional Business Women's Club, Lincoln County Association for Home and Community Education, as well as being active in the Democratic Party for many years.

Survivors include her children Lois A. (John) Grans, Madison; Theodore 'Ted' J. (Rachel) Heldt, Mosinee; and Mary C. Grefe, Merrill; 21 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-granddaughter. She is further survived by sisters Catherine A. (Forest) Faufau, Green Bay; and Roberta A. Nyberg, Tomahawk; and daughter-in-law Donna Heldt, Merrill. She was preceded in death by her husband Fred R. Heldt on May 23, 1975; her son Fred G. Heldt on May 21, 2002; and son-in-law Robert W. Grefe on Feb. 20, 2000. She was also preceded in death by sisters Alice A. Cortright and Evelyn L. Wright.

A celebration of Dorothy's life took place at St. Francis Catholic Church, Merrill, on Saturday, Oct. 20, followed by burial in Merrill Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Dorothy's name to St. Francis Catholic Church, the Holy Cross Sisters, or the Merrill Area Recreational Complex.

A devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, a true and caring friend to many from all walks of life, her spirit and memory will remain long with all that knew her.

The Taylor & Stine Funeral Home, Merrill, assisted the family with arrangements.

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