FIND AN OBITUARY
Service information is posted on our website only with approval from the family.
If you are seeking information not listed below, please contact us.
Dorothy Thieme
12/29/1936 — 10/26/2026
From Richland, WA. | Born in Twin Falls, Idaho
Dorothy Thieme
Dorothy Ann Thieme went home to the Lord on Monday, October 26, 2026, at the age of 89.
Born on December 29, 1936, to Ernest and Jenneve Kral in Twin Falls, Idaho, Dorothy grew up alongside her sisters, Norma and Mavis, and her brother, Larry, on the family farm in Buhl, Idaho.
On January 14, 1955, she married the love of her life, Gaylord Thieme. After Gaylord completed his service in the Navy, the couple moved first to Boise and then to Salt Lake City while he attended college and they began welcoming their children.
Following graduation, the young family moved to Richland, Washington, where Gaylord accepted an engineering position with General Electric at Hanford. Dorothy embraced the rhythms of family life, dedicating herself to raising their two boys and remaining deeply involved in their school activities and sporting events. Richland would remain her cherished home for the next 64 years.
Dorothy possessed a deep love for the outdoors. She was an avid gardener whose harvest yielded an abundance of fruits and vegetables for canning and preserving. Meticulous in maintaining her home’s lawn and landscaping, her absolute favorite task was piloting the lawn mower across their nearly one-acre yard. It was a peaceful time of solitude and quiet reflection for her, even on the rare, abrupt occasions when a rogue sprinkler head or tree root interrupted her Zen-like focus.
As the daughter of a gunsmith, Dorothy was comfortable with firearms and looked forward to joining her family on deer and elk hunting trips. During the summer months, she loved camping with her loved ones in the beautiful Snoqualmie National Forest.
Later in life, with her children grown, Dorothy returned to her education and earned an Associate degree in business from Columbia Basin College. She immediately put her degree to work, partnering with Gaylord to own and operate Sunwest Screenprint in Richland for a successful decade. Following Gaylord’s passing, Dorothy resiliently continued running the business for another 10 years before retiring in 2006.
Dorothy was also a familiar regular friendly face at the local Spudnut Shop. Each morning on her way to work, she would stop in to enjoy a cake doughnut and black coffee while quietly reading the daily newspaper and talking with the locals.
A woman of enduring faith, Dorothy was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church since her arrival in Richland in 1962. Throughout her boys’ childhoods, she taught Sunday school and organized Vacation Bible School. She was also an active member of the
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) and thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship of the church quilting group.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Gaylord. She is survived by her two sons, Steven (Dawn) and Kenneth (Carla); her brother, Larry Kral (Alvina); and her sisters, Mavis Carter and Norma Dinneen. She was the incredibly proud grandmother of Zachery (Sydney), Katie (Michael), Kyle (Rebecca), Bryan (Shaneel), and Devon (Anna). She was further blessed with five beautiful great-grandchildren: Lucas, Robert, Lillian, Parker, and Samantha.
A memorial service will be held at Redeemer Lutheran Church at 11:00am on Saturday November 7th, 2026
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial gifts be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church, 520 Thayer Dr., Richland, WA 99352.
Trying to be concise and to simplify what Grandma meant to us feels a little like trying to scoop the whole of the Pacific Ocean into a tiny teacup. She was an anchor to which our hearts were tethered.
You will hear many in the family say Grandma has always been there, and while that may sound simple it has been a deeply comforting and guiding light. When someone is such a fixture, consistent, reliable and unwavering in love, as grandma was, its’s hard to imagine the world quite the same without them in it.
Gratitude.
True Kindness.
An Inquisitive mind.
The ability to laugh at herself.
Finding humor in the everyday.
Grandma had all of this, and we need more of it.
Now, Grandma wasn’t just love and kindness. She could dish it out as well as she could take it and do it all with a gracious smile. Her love for her grandchildren proved unconditional time and time again. Never tearing anyone down in judgment, but also not afraid to give gentle correction when needed. She was always highly entertained by the antics of her grandchildren. I believe it was one of her delights hearing about their “shenanigans” in their younger years (and maybe even a few more recently). Your secret was always safe with Grandma, and she thoroughly enjoyed the privilege of being the bearer of them.
We already miss her and feel her absence, but we know we are so much better off because she was here. Incredibly grateful for that.
Love you Grandma!
Till we see you again!
(Revelation 21:4)
Grandma Thieme,
Thank you for sharing your love and laughter with your grandsons and their families. We will cherish the fond memories of our visits and continue to celebrate “Crazy Grandma” to honor your consistent love and joy.
With love, Anna, Devon, Lilly and Robert
Mrs. Thieme was my next door neighbor. We always had a good conversation out in her yard.
The last I talked to her was late last summer when she was trying to get her front yard sidewalks clean.
The temperature was hot, and there she was sweating. I made her sit and I finished the job for her.
I liked Mrs. Thieme and she was always glad to see me.
I will truly miss my friend.
Donna Hubbard
I only knew Dorothy a short time, but was always impressed with her kindness and thoughtfulness. we shared a grandson, for me and a great grandson for her, Lucas. She loved him very much and he always enjoyed visiting her and she welcomed his cousins who would occasionally play in her yard as well. She will be greatly missed by all, including Rocky.
Guestbook for
Dorothy Thieme