Dorothy “Dottie” Iverson

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Obituary

Dorothy “Dottie” Iverson, 93, of Sioux City, IA, formerly of Mitchell, SD, went to her heavenly home Saturday, April 20, 2024 at The Heritage at Northern Hills Assisted Living in Sioux City. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 AM on Friday, May 3, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Mitchell. Burial will be at Servicemen’s Memorial Cemetery in Mitchell. Visitation will be Thursday, May 2, from 5-7:00 PM with a 6:30 PM prayer service at Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Dorothy "Dottie" LaDon (Shoemaker) Iverson was born September 21, 1930, in Fulton, SD. The daughter of Harold and Laura (Lackmann) Smith, she and her mother moved in 1932 to Mitchell, where she grew up and in 1948, graduated from Notre Dame Academy. She worked and lived with her mother Laura and stepfather Sid Shearer at the Lakeview Golf Course from 1946 to 1951. She would rise early to help with groundskeeping and even mowed greens and fairways. She helped her mother Laura cook weekly for the Men’s and Women’s Golf Club. This was around 180 meals a week. During this time, she also worked hard to become an accomplished golfer, which was unusual as it was considered a man’s sport. Dottie was well known in South Dakota as a golfer who won numerous tournaments throughout the surrounding area.

Dottie’s passion in life was caring for others. She attained her nursing degree at St. Joseph School of Nursing in 1951. She worked at Armour Hospital for 2 years and also at the St. Barnabas Hospital in Minneapolis for 2 years, where she attended the University of Minnesota. She returned to Mitchell in 1955 and worked at St. Joseph Hospital for 30 years in several capacities: nurse in Pediatrics, Surgery, ICU, and Coronary Care. She was also an Emergency Room Evening Supervisor and Head Nurse in the Obstetrics & Recovery Room. Her career included working as Director of Nursing at Firesteel Healthcare Center and as an Industrial Nurse for Dakota Pork. Dottie could never walk into a store without someone stopping her to thank her for the special assistance she gave them while they were in her care. Dottie often said she didn’t just want to take care of her patients but she wanted to “care” for them.

On April 14th, 1956 Dottie married Earl (Bud) Shoemaker and they were blessed with 7 children. Bud passed away in 1980 after 24 years of marriage, filled with wonderful family memories. Dottie was also a successful entrepreneur.  She co-owned KaDy Uniforms for 2 years and then took sole ownership in 1982 as Dottie’s Fashion Uniforms.

Throughout her life, she was a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church where she was an active volunteer. Dottie was always looking for opportunities to help people, whether it was putting food on their table, providing a place to stay, or money in their pockets. She shared what she had even when times were tough. Most importantly she was always praying for people in need. She was a devoted Catholic who attended daily mass. She always carried a rosary and praying the rosary was part of her daily activity. Her children and grandchildren were sure she had a direct connection with God. They would ask her to pray for them when they were going through various challenges. Even her children’s friends would ask for these special prayers. Dottie felt especially close to the Blessed Mother Mary. Dottie’s mother Laura saved a 4 ft. statue of the Blessed Mother that was displayed in the Notre Dame Academy. The statue was going to be destroyed due to dilapidation. Dottie and Laura kept the statue for numerous years, moving it to wherever Laura lived. After Laura passed in 2008, Dottie restored this statue in Laura’s memory and returned it to its previous glory. This statue was donated to Holy Family Catholic Church in Mitchell where it is on display.

Dottie married Merv Iverson on October 21, 1988, in Mitchell. Dottie’s early years with Merv were filled with fun trips they would take with the Chrysler Corporation. Merv passed away in 2018. Dottie was also active in the community and served on the Lakeview Golf Board, Council of Aging, Mitchell Concert Series, and The Twentieth Century Society. She was a talented singer and performer. She sang with Sweet Adelines, and performed in several productions of ACT Theatre. Her children fondly remember listening to their mother’s sweet voice singing in the kitchen at the start of each day.

Grateful for having shared her life are her children, Ann Trent of Omaha, NE, Tom Shoemaker of Mitchell, SD, Gail Urso of Brookfield, CT, Sid (Linda) Shoemaker of Sioux City, IA, Mary (Bob) Kobernusz of Sioux Falls, SD, Laura (Reggie) Hair of Charlotte, NC, and step-daughter, Diane Brookstein of Omaha, NE. She had 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Dottie was preceded in death by her son, Glen Shoemaker; husbands, Earl (Bud) Shoemaker and Merv Iverson; and her parents, Sid and Laura Shearer.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Carmelite Monastery, 221 5th St., P. O. Box 67, Alexandria, SD 57311; or the Abbott House, 909 Court Merrill St., Mitchell, SD 57301.

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