Dorothy "Dottie" E. Berkley

Dorothy E. Berkley died quietly the morning of November 19, 2018. Dorothy (Dottie) was born July 9, 1929, in Alpena, South Dakota to Samuel and Agnes (Schmidt) Burnison. Dottie grew up in Alpena and graduated from Alpena High School. She later attended the University of Denver. In Alpena, she began her work in banking, which propelled her to take a position at the Sioux Valley Bank, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. As a young woman, Dottie especially enjoyed her group of professional women friends. Then Dottie met her husband-to-be (Dean) in Sioux Falls. They were married in 1953. In 1957, they moved to Bloomington, Indiana (with their young sons). Dottie raised four children, maintained her home and was involved in several local organizations as a leader and volunteer. These included P.E.O., Bloomington Hospital (Local Council of Women), and St Mark’s United Methodist Church (to name a few). Upon arriving at Indiana University (IU) she and her husband Dean were sought after by Herman Wells to help host many events to promote Indiana University). Dottie and her husband Dean enjoyed traveling, often combined with Dean’s speaking engagements. In retirement Dottie enjoyed spending summers in the North Carolina Mountains playing bridge, reading, cutting/arranging flowers, hosting visitors/friends, and fund raising for the Hospice of Yancey County. Dottie excelled at cooking and entertaining guests in her home – a visitor would notice she had a special talent for combining and arranging beautiful things. Her home was always tastefully decorated for each season and holiday. All were warmly made to feel welcome. The dinner table was beautifully set and would include family, friends, neighbors, new girl/boyfriends, and even a former IU football coach who with his family were stranded in Bloomington due to a freak winter storm. Dottie was social, stylish, active, organized, and fun-loving. Dottie is survived by her children, Craig (Gail) Berkley (Arvada, CO), Bryan Berkley (Bloomington, IN), Dee Berkley (Kevin) Allen (Bartlesville, OK), and Brent Berkley (Martinsville, IN and Murphy, NC), and seven grandchildren. Dottie is pre-deceased by her husband, Dean Berkley, of which were married for 57 years, her parents, and three brothers Cecil, Leroy, and Earl Burnison. A memorial service will be held at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, Friday, December 21, 2018, at 12:00 noon. Please consider a gift to either St. Marks United Methodist Church or the Hospice of Yancey County, NC in lieu of flowers.

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Dorothy "Dottie" E. Berkley

July 9, 1929 - November 19, 2018