Dorothy Jean Biers, 95, of rural Sturgis, passed away Thursday, April 25, 2019, at Rapid City Regional Hospital with family by her side.
She was born to the late James Jay and Lorna Margaret Morrow on May 20, 1923, in Mildred, MT. She was the fourth youngest of 15 siblings, four sisters and 11 brothers, which included two sets of twins, who predeceased her. The family homesteaded in Mildred until 1932 and then moved to Glasgow and then Billings in 1938. The Morrow family traditions included gathering after the evening meal for singing and dancing while her father played the fiddle. Dorothy would say that her father provided the fun and her mother didn't put up with any nonsense. Dorothy seemed to have inherited a good mix of both personalities.
Dorothy graduated from Billings High School in 1940 and from cosmetology school in 1941. While she was a trained hair stylist, her employer also asked her to be the receptionist because she was so personable and vivacious.
She married Elmer John Biers April 13, 1942, in Billings. They lived in Dayton, OH, where Elmer was an aircraft mechanic at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. In the fall of 1942, Elmer transferred to Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City, SD. Elmer served in WWII in Europe from 1943 to 1945. It was during this time that Dorothy likely gained her independence, which would later serve her well with life on the farm. In 1949, Elmer and Dorothy purchased land near Black Hawk and started a hobby farm which grew into a dairy farm. In 1963, they purchased a ranch east of Tilford to expand the dairy operation.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her loving husband, Elmer, of 69 years.
She is survived by six sons, Darryl of Scenic, Bob of Helena, MT, Jim of Piedmont, Jerry of rural Sturgis, Dallas of Piedmont, and David of Rapid City; and two daughters, JoAnn of Gothenburg, NE, and Barbara of Moorcroft, WY. Dorothy was blessed with 22 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.
Dorothy was immensely proud of her family, referring to them as six handsome sons and two lovely daughters. Dorothy and the kids ran the farm while Elmer worked in civil service at Ellsworth Air Force Base. She was the queen of multi-tasking - would have a pie in the oven, laundry going, house in order and be in the barn milking cows. Dorothy had an amazing temperament and rarely buckled under the pressure of raising a large family, running a farm, and going along with Elmer's entrepreneurial adventures. He said that Dorothy was the glue that held it all together, while she credited him for being the glue. They were a great testimony of devotion to each other and God.
Dorothy leaves behind beautiful and fun memories of large family gatherings with bountiful meals, followed by competitive card games and entertaining family skits which she led the charge. She was a gracious hostess who thrived under the chaos of many active grandchildren. She was always pleasant and had a beautiful smile.
Dorothy was a member of the First Evangelical Free Church in Rapid City for 50+ years, and later became a founding member of the Hills View Evangelical Free Church in Piedmont. She was a former member of the White Cross, Gideon organization, and various Bible study groups.
Visitation with the family will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, May 2, at Hills View Evangelical Free Church in Piedmont.
A celebration of life service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 3, 2019, also at Hills View Evangelical Free Church. Interment will follow at 12:30 p.m. at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.
Memorials have been established to Hills View Evangelical Free Church and the Gideon organization.

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