Dorothy J. Rilley, 91, of Ekalaka, went to be with the Lord on December 8, 2002 at the Dahl Memorial Healthcare in Ekalaka. She was born in Crawfordville, IN on July 26, 1911. Dorothy was the third child out of eight children born to Glenn and Genoa (Cochran) Hall. In May of 1912, the family moved to Montana. In 1915, they homesteaded. At the tender age of eight, she would harness a team of horses and work in fields with the men. She drove all types of horse drawn equipment. Dorothy milked cows for most of her life. She worked in restaurants in Terry and Ismay even though she preferred to be outdoors and working with large animals. While working in Ismay she met her future husband, Lester W. Rilley. They were married on July 3, 1928 in Miles City. To this union there were five children born, Eleanor, Robert, Bobbie (Bud), Floyd (Corkey) and Yvonne. They lived in Ismay until October 1928 when they moved to Coalwood, Montana. In July 1944 they bought the G.M. Sweeney ranch near Mill Iron where she lived until 1959 when she bought a house in Ekalaka. Dorothy was a member of the Mill Iron Community Club and worked hard with others to get the Mill Iron Hall built. She was also very active in the Ekalaka Senior Citizens Club. After moving to town she kept busy doing sewing for herself and others, making quilts that she gave to her family and friends.
She was preceded in death by parents; her husband, Lester; two brothers; five sisters; three sons, Robert, Bobbie (Bud), Floyd (Corkey); a grandson, Darwin; and a great-grandson, Jeremy.
Dorothy is survived by two daughters: Eleanor Schweigert of Livingston and Yvonne (Dale) Horner of Ekalaka; a sister, Betty of Miles City; eleven grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; and two great great-grandchildren.
Visitation will begin Thursday, Dec. 12, from 2 PM until 7 PM at the Stevenson Funeral Chapel in Ekalaka. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, Dec. 13, at 2 PM at the St. Elizabeth Lutheran Church in Ekalaka. Burial will follow in the Beaverlodge Cemetery.