Our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Dorothy Rew Rees, peacefully slipped away from us on Thursday, February 21, 2008 at Quail Hollow in Richland, Washington, after a long and valiant battle with Parkinson’s disease.  Mom was born on May 11, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Charles Manning Borst and Hazel Bernice Thomas.  During Mom’s high school years, her family settled in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.  Mom majored in business and also enjoyed and excelled in swimming and dancing.

While attending the Northern Idaho Teachers’ College in Lewiston, Idaho, Mom met Howard Edward Rew at a dance.  He was not much of a dancer, but had a cute 1941 Hudson coupe.  On Valentines Day, 1942, Mom accepted Howard’s proposal of marriage.  Shortly thereafter, however, she was diagnosed with tuberculosis and was required to return to Coeur d’Alene for three months of bed rest.  The following January, Mom married Howard in Lewiston.

While residing in Clarkston, Washington, Cheryl Ann was born, soon followed by Marilyn Marie.  In September 1947, Dad took a job at Hanford.  For the next fifteen months, Mom cared for her girls mostly alone while waiting for housing in Richland.  In December 1948, the family was finally reunited when they moved into their new house in Richland.  Soon their third daughter, Marci Lavonne, was born, followed by a son, Howard Edward Rew, Jr.

In 1949, Mom and Dad were baptized and confirmed members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  A year and a half later, their marriage was sealed for time and all eternity in the Cardston, Alberta Temple.  Mom remained active in the Church throughout her life.  She served in many callings and particularly enjoyed being the secretary to various organizations and auxiliaries in the Church.

While raising four children, Mom also worked to help support her family.  In 1956 she started her Hanford career working for General Electric as a Librarian’s Assistant at the Richland Public Library.  Over the next 31 years she worked for several Hanford contractors, mostly in secretarial or clerical positions.  During this time, she completed her Associate of Arts Degree in Business Administration and also earned her Certification as a Professional Secretary.  In 1987, Mom retired from Westinghouse Hanford Company.

Retirement allowed Mom and Dad to enjoy several years traveling throughout the United States and beyond its borders.  As a result of Dad’s declining health, they moved to the Hawthorne Court Retirement Center in Kennewick, where they continued to enjoy many activities.  In September 1996, Mom lost her first love to Parkinson’s disease.  Throughout Dad’s illness, Mom remained dutifully and lovingly by his side to care for and comfort him.

After Dad’s death, Mom began to regularly attend the seniors’ center dances in Pasco.  When Mom signed up for some dance lessons, William Bill Rees, a recently widowed friend whom she had known for many years, quickly offered to be her partner.  Soon their dancing turned into romancing, and they were married in June 1998.  Mom and Bill enjoyed five years of dancing, traveling, and listening to beautiful music.  They were inseparable.  In November 2003, Mom lost her second love to congestive heart failure.  Around this same time, Mom was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Following Bill’s death, Mom moved to the Charbonneau Retirement Residence in Kennewick.  She insisted on maintaining her independence as long as possible and loathed the thought of ever being a burden on someone else, especially her family.  Gradually her health declined to the point where it was necessary for her to move into an assisted living arrangement, first at Eagle Assisted Living and then at Quail Hollow in Richland.

Mom is survived by her children Cherrie Ken Gale, Marilyn Dan Reynolds, and Howard Janna Rew of Richland, and Marci Willison of Pasco, and by 18 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.  Mom will ever be missed and never forgotten.

The family wishes to thank all those who aided and comforted Mom during these past few weeks, particularly the nurses and caregivers at Quail Hollow and The Chaplaincy Hospice.  Their kindness and care were felt and deeply appreciated.

Visitation will be held at Einan’s Funeral Home in Richland on Monday, February 25, 2008, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.  A memorial service will be held at the LDS Stake Center, 1720 Thayer in Richland on Tuesday, February 26, 2008, at 11:00 AM, followed by a graveside service at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Richland.

Memorial contributions in her name may be made to The Chaplaincy Hospice, 2108 West Entiat Ave, Kennewick, WA 99336, or to the Kadlec Hospital’s new pediatric center at 888 Swift Blvd., Richland, WA 99352.