Dorothy Ann Cole

Dorothy was born in Curtis Nebraska to Ann and Hugh La Bounty December 11, 1916 and a short time later moved to a 640 acre dry land farm a few miles outside Edgemont South Dakota where they had to haul water for drinking and bathing five miles by horse and wagon. Shortly after the family sold the farm in 1940 the largest uranium strike in the United States, at that time, was discovered on the property.

After graduating from school Dorothy taught school in a one room class with five students. In June of 1937 she married Kenneth H. Cole after a long range relationship, as Ken was a civil engineer for standard oil and spent three years in Venezuela on a seismograph crew. After they married they spent nine years traveling all over the southern states to the different oil fields. In 1946 they settled in Salem Oregon as their son had reached school age and bought a restaurant which they operated as Cole’s Fried Chicken Dinners for ten years. After selling the business they started K-Dot Dance Studio and had a studio in Salem, but spent about five nights a week teaching at Elks clubs throughout the Willamette Valley and coast area. During this time they acquired six rentals which they managed.

They retired in 1971 and enjoyed their retirement. They traveled to forty two different countries overseas and went on three cruises. They almost circled the globe twice. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1987. In their later years they started making wine as a hobby which Dorothy continued doing after the passing of Kenneth in 1996. Her friends and neighbors at Paradise Island Mobile Home Park pitched in and helped and also enjoyed the fruits of their labors.

Dorothy was preceded by her brother, Lyle La Bounty in 1930; and husband, Kenneth in 1996. She is survived by her granddaughter, Debra Glover of Keizer; great-granddaughters, Georgia Cole and Justice Glover of Keizer and son Robert Cole of Salem.

The family wishes to thank Tierra Rose Care Center and staff for the kindness shown Dorothy during her stay there.

There will be a visitation on Wednesday, March 7 from 9-11am at Howell Edwards Doerksen Funeral Directors. Cryptside Services will follow at 11:30 am at City View Cemetery. Arrangements are by Howell Edwards Doerksen Funeral Directors www.HED-FH.com.