In Loving Memory of Dorothea "Dorothy" Blessman

February 13, 1933 – January 20, 2025

Dorothea "Dorothy" Bernie Blessman, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, was called to be with her Lord and Savior on January 20, 2025, at the age of 91. Dorothy was born in Greenwood, South Dakota, to her parents, Oscar and Isabel. She was a proud member of the Yankton Sioux Tribe and had nine siblings: Clifford, Bernard, Joseph, Thelma, Peter, Katherine, Earlwin, Beatrice, and Jeanette.

After the passing of their mother, Dorothy took on a maternal role for her siblings while they lived at an orphanage for Native American children. During her time there, she nurtured, disciplined, and lovingly cared for her siblings, demonstrating what would soon be her greatest role.

At the age of 16, Dorothy relocated to Wichita, KS, where she worked at Brookings Dairy Farm, in south Wichita. While working on the dairy farm, a romance sparked between her and a fellow farm hand. At the age of 18, Dorothy married Robert Blessman Sr. on December 8th, 1951, and together they raised eight children in Garden Plain, KS.

Despite the challenges of raising a large family on a farm, Dorothy worked various jobs to help support the household. She took great pride in creating a warm, organized, and welcoming home. She kept busy doing work around the house over the course of her life. Dorothy instilled a deep appreciation for Native American history and traditions in her children, ensuring that their cultural heritage was honored and passed down. She is well-known for her incredible fry bread, and Indian Tacos. Throughout the years, her trademarked fry bread recipe was passed down. "You need a couple of palms of flour and a few pinches of salt". Often duplicated but never replicated, it was her unique touch that made us all fall in love with fry bread.

Dorothy's legacy lives on through her children: Rita (Dave) Lytle, Michael (Monica) Fraizer, Cathy (Wayne) Peterson, Bobbi (Vince) Matthews, Robert (Julie) Blessman, Ernie (Jamie) Blessman, Timothy Blessman, and Cecily (David) Brooner; her grandchildren: Barbara Umholtz, David (Lynn) Blessman, Lisa Arndt, Drew (Courtney) Matthews, Michelle (Jeremy) Cowden, Andrea (Chris) Young, Stephanie (Joshua) Capps, Denise (Alexander) Rutenbeck, Chad (Jennifer) Matthews, Eric (Taylor) Matthews, Lezley Jones, Robbie Blessman, Ryan Blessman, Cody Gipson, Alexis (Victoria) Gonzales-Blessman, and Dylan Brooner; 20 great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great-grandchild.

Dorothy will be remembered for her love of the Kansas City Chiefs, Yankton Sioux Tribe, Rummy, Wahoo, Dominoes, camping, and spending quality time with family.