Herald Journal Publishing

Publisher of Herald Journal, Dassel-Cokato Enterprise Dispatch, Delano Herald Journal, McLeod County Chronicle, Arlington Enterprise, & West Carver News

Dorothy Skappel Obituary – 4/14/2022


Dorothy J. Skappel, age 96, of Hutchinson, passed away April 14, 2022, at Savanna Prairie in Kimball, Minnesota.

Dorothy Janet (Phillips) Skappel was born to Emery and Mary (Persicke) Phillips July 27, 1925, in Plentywood, MT. She was baptized and confirmed in the Methodist Church in Hutchinson, and graduated from Litchfield High School in 1943.

Her earliest job was a telephone operator at Northwest Bell Telephone Company in Litchfield for three years before she was married.

Dorothy was united in marriage to Lyle Skappel June 10, 1946, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA. Dorothy and Lyle made their home in Dassel where four children were born. In 1957, the family moved to Litchfield.

Dorothy was known for her gardens, and loved canning what was grown there. Her family has many good memories of her canned fruit.  She was a wonderful seamstress.

Dorothy and Lyle moved off the farm and into their cozy little house on South Marshall in 1972. Dorothy worked at Sangren Shoes for a time and then worked at The Garment Factory for 17 years.  She was a member of the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary.

Dorothy lived in Litchfield until 2011, when she moved to Hutchinson and lived at Evergreen Apartments for 11 years.

In early November 2021, she moved to Savanna Prairie in Kimball, where she resided until her death.

Dorothy is survived by her children: Vickie Johnson of Litchfield, Barbara (Ken) Bauman of Richmond, Steven (Judi) Skappel of Becker, and Bruce (Cindy) Skappel of Albertville; sisters Colleen Engert of Portland, OR, and Joyce Holm of Shoreview; 11 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; a great-great grandchild due in June; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lyle, in 1987; parents, Emery and Mary Phillips; sister Shirley Sjoquist; brothers Emery and Lyle; nieces Rebecca Ruona and Debra Johanneck; son-in-law Paul Johnson; parents-in-law Fred and Stella Jones; and infant great-grandson Raider.

A funeral service took place April 20, at 11 a.m. at Johnson-Hagglund Funeral and Cremation Service in Litchfield. A visitation took place one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. The service was live-streamed.

The family expresses its appreciation to the staff at Savanna Prairie and Moments Hospice for their comforting care of their mother.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.