Dorothy M. Heller, 90, Valley Falls, died Sunday, Aug. 8, 2010, at the Linnwood Home Plus care facility in Valley Falls.
She was born on Oct. 3, 1919, near Valley Falls, the daughter of Albert R. and Verna McDonald Steinmetz. She graduated from Atchison County Community High School at Effingham in 1937. Dorothy taught for several years at Prairie Hall and North Cedar rural grade schools in Jefferson County.
She was a member of St. Mary's Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Valley Falls and the Altar Society of the church. She was also a member of local bridge clubs and the Kanza Study Club.
She married John C. Heller on July 1, 1940, at Hiawatha. He died on Dec. 28, 1980. She was also preceded in death by three brothers, Leonard Steinmetz, Albert Steinmetz and Virgil Steinmetz, and a sister, Lila Dutton.
Survivors include two sons, Gary (Marjorie) Heller, Lebo, and Dennis (Claudia) Heller, Hoyt; a daughter, Beverly Jennings, El Paso, TX; eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and many nephews and nieces.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Friday, Aug. 13, 2010, at St. Mary's Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Valley Falls. Burial will follow at the church cemetery., A Rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the church or to Jefferson County E.M.S., District 11, and sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, 810 Broadway, Valley Falls, KS 66088. Online condolences are at mercerfuneralhomes.com