Retired Black Hills newspaper publisher Dorothy Irene Allison died Sunday, November 19, 2006, at her Sturgis home. Her death came within two weeks of being diagnosed with a terminal illness, a development she handled as she had done with all events in her life, with dignity and grace.

Visitation will be Tuesday, November 21, 2006, at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis from noon until 7:00 p.m. and one hour prior to services on Wednesday at the church. A rosary service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 21, 2006, at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel. Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 22, 2006, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church with Father Arnold Kari officiating. Burial will be at the Black Hills National Cemetery.

Dorothy Irene Allison was born in Deadwood, SD, to Joseph and Katherine (Sarkis) Pugh on October 31, 1921. She lived in Deadwood until she was six. When her mother married John Soldat, the family moved to the Fort Meade 7th Cavalry military post, and it was under her stepfather's direction, she developed her equestrian skills. Like her mother, she was successful in the male-dominated business world decades prior to the women's movement. Dorothy, who graduated from Sturgis High School in 1940, spent her school years working with her mother, Katherine Soldat, at the Rushmore Ads. This advertising shopper founded in 1937 would be the precursor to Allison Publishing, Inc. Again like her mother, Dorothy was always simultaneously involved in more than one occupation. During the day, she would be legal secretary/abstractor and at night built ads at the shopper.

In 1938, she was chosen Miss Black Hills and also sang in area dance bands. When World War II broke out she was the first civilian stenographer hired at Fort Meade. It was at Fort Meade she met her life partner, Vernon Allison, a master sergeant in the U.S. Army. When his orders came for deployment to the Burmese-China combat zone, the pair took the train to his San Francisco debarkation point so they could stop in Reno, Nevada, and be married on May 29, 1944. After World War II, the couple was stationed at Fort Meade, Maryland. When the Korean Conflict started, Vern would spend the next two years in Korea with Gen. MacArthur's troops and Dorothy returned to Sturgis. After this war ended, Vern was stationed at San Luis Obispo, CA, and it was then the couple decided a career change was in order and they returned to their native state. The couple bought the Rushmore Ads from Mrs. Soldat and transformed it into what would become Allison Publishing.

It was this philosophy of a strong family network; dedicated employees; superior news coverage of local events culminating in a quality package that resulted in Allison Publishing becoming the largest non-daily newspaper group in South Dakota. The Allison family published the Meade County Times-Tribune, Black Hills Press, both in Sturgis; the twice-weekly Lawrence County Centennial in Deadwood and Spearfish; the Belle Fourche Daily Post and Bee; the Butte County Valley Irrigator; the Black Hills News shopper; numerous specialty publications and was as a central printing plant for other newspapers and commercial customers in a three-state region. Allison Publishing, Inc. sold to Dickson Media, Inc. of Charlottesville, VA, in November 1993, which marked the end of Dorothy's 55 years in the media business. Ultimately Lee Enterprises, corporate owner of the Rapid City Journal, acquired the properties once owned by the Allison family.

The S.D. Newspaper Association recognized her many contributions to the profession and presented her with its highest honor in 2003. In 2004, the Sturgis Chamber of Commerce presented Dorothy and her family with its highest distinction, the Key City Award for outstanding service to the community through the newspapers and the Vernon Heights Housing Development. In addition, she was elected the first woman president of the Sturgis Chamber of Commerce; South Dakota's representative at the 1984 Republican National Convention's and its Platform Committee in Dallas, Texas; held several offices in the Rocky Mountain Region's Zonta International; and played a pivotal role in organizing many service and professional organizations in the Black Hills including Beta Sigma Phi, Toastmistresses, and Zonta. She also served several terms on the S.D. GOP executive board and was a gubernatorial appointee to state boards. Following her retirement she served on the Fort Meade Museum Board and on the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church council.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Vern in 1992; her mother, Katherine Soldat; her father and stepfather, and an infant grandchild.

She is survived by her daughter, Doreen Creed, Sturgis; two sons, Vernon James (Jim) Allison and his wife, Jackie of Sturgis; David Allison and his wife, Sharon, of Waynesville, NC; grandchildren, Allison Creed, University of SD nursing student; Jonathan and Jennifer Creed, students at South Dakota State University, Brookings; Sandi (Brad) Napier and their children, Lauren and Kelsey of McKinney, Texas; Karri (Bret) Hansen and their children, Codi, Brooklyn, Sidney, of Faith, SD; Amie Allison of Minneapolis, MN; Christopher Allison, Alexandria, VA; other survivors include a niece, Ginger Tait, and a nephew, Mark Nelson, both of Rapid City.