Obituaries

Dorothy M. Pitts

Photo of Dorothy M. Pitts
Dorothy M. Pitts, age 81, of Bella Vista, Ark., and formerly of Rembrandt, Iowa, died on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012, at the Northwest Medical Center in Bentonville, Ark. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 5, 2012, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Sioux Rapids. Burial was in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in Sioux Rapids. Visitation was from 5-7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012, at the Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids, with a parish rosary at 7 p.m. The arrangements are under the direction of the Sliefert Funeral Home of Sioux Rapids, Iowa. Dorothy Mae Smith, the daughter of Benjamin and Elsie (Bruker) Smith, was born in Lytton, Iowa, on March 21, 1931. She lived her youth and attended school in Lytton and Fonda. Dorothy was a 1948 graduate of the Fonda Community High School. On March 18, 1949, Dorothy was united in marriage to William J. Pitts at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Sioux Rapids. This union was blessed with seven children, Pat, Mel, Mark, Dixie, Bill, Kenny and Scott. Dorothy and Bill lived in various communities throughout Northwest Iowa where Bill was a school teacher and Dorothy was a devoted homemaker, wife and mother. In 1968, they purchased their farm near Rembrandt and resided there until 1986. Dorothy and Bill moved to Bella Vista, Ark., in 1986 where they made their home with the exception of the summer months that they spent in Rembrandt. Bill passed away on July 13, 2007. While she was in Arkansas, Dorothy volunteered at various schools and was also a volunteer at the Bella Vista television station. Her time was also valued as a volunteer at the Northwest Medical Center in Bentonville, Ark. On June 14, 2008, Dorothy married Bob Coleman at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Bella Vista. Bob died in February of 2010. Dorothy was a member of the St. Joseph's Catholic Church of Sioux Rapids and St. Bernard Catholic Church of Bella Vista. She was very musically talented and sang in the church choir and also played the piano and organ. Dorothy had many special hobbies and interests that included playing cards, traveling, baking, especially her delicious pies, and making jewelry. Dorothy's life and memories will always be loved and cherished by her family which include her children, Pat and Danny Rench of Lytton, Iowa, Mel and Marian Pitts of Sioux Rapids, Iowa, Mark and Nancy Pitts of Hamburg, Iowa, Dixie and Darrell Lester of Rembrandt, Iowa, Bill and Suzy Pitts of Astoria, Ore., Kenny Pitts of Rembrandt, Iowa, and Scott and Shannon Pitts of Bentonville, Ark.; 20 beloved grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; her brother, Dale (Anna) Smith of Bellevue, Neb.; and two sisters, Betty Wilson of Grant City, Mo., and Judy (Charlie) Maschino of Laurens, Iowa; two stepchildren, John and Patty; nieces, nephews, other extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her two husbands; and two grandchildren, Elizabeth and Joshua Lester. Memorials may be given in Dorothy's memory to the American Cancer Society and the Alzheimer's Association.

Published November 6, 2012

Upcoming Events