February 13, 1935, in Hemet, California, to Olaf and
Esther Boe.
There was no hospital nearby at that time, so she was
born in the Utigaard home on Stanford Street between
Whittier and Johnston Streets. Baptized by Pastor Oswald
Skov at St. John’s Lutheran Church on March 17, 1935, in
the baptismal fount built by her father, her Godparents
were Bert and Tilda Neste and Knut and Rosa Utigaard.
The family moved to Van Nuys and then North Hollywood, California, until her father died
unexpectedly in 1945. She attended fifth grade at Little Lake School, where her mother’s
cousin Hilda Halvorson was a teacher and principal. Sixth through ninth grades were spent
back in North Hollywood.
Dorothy returned to Hemet and graduated from Hemet High School in 1953.
She had various jobs in her lifetime, including attendance secretary at Hemet Junior High and
a travel agent. Her main career was as a California Highway Patrol Dispatcher and
Supervisor for 15 years.
Volunteering included reading to elementary school students, helping at Hemet Hospital, and
then serving on the Board of Directors for the Hemet Alumni Association since 2003. She was
involved at church and regularly sent cards of encouragement to church members. Her
handwriting was always beautiful, and she was a beautiful person inside and out, especially
on Sunday when she was known as “the hat lady”.
Dorothy passed away unexpectedly but peacefully on May 4, 2024, at her Hemet home.
Dorothy is preceded in death by both her parents and all her siblings: Evelyn, Anita, June,
Helen, Kenneth, and Frances. She is survived by her five children: Suzanne Alvarez Petras,
Tony Alvarez (Angela Peterson Alvarez), Luanne Alvarez, Carol Alvarez Darby (Brian Darby),
and Mary Alvarez; six grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. She was an Auntie to
several nieces and nephews and their families.
It was her wish to be cremated and scattered at sea, which is being handled by Miller Jones
Mortuary in Hemet.
A celebration of life is being held on June 15, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Prince of Peace Lutheran
Church, 701 North Sanderson Avenue, Hemet, CA 92545. A light lunch is being provided
afterward in the Fellowship Hall by the women of the church. In lieu of flowers, donations to
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church are appreciated.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.11.0