Dorothy Elizabeth Burnham, 89, Sturgis, died Sunday, September 24, 2006, at Key City Retirement Home in Sturgis.

Visitation will be 8 a.m. to noon at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel on Tuesday. Mass of Christian Burial will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, September 26, 2006, at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Sturgis with Fr. Arnold Kari officiating. Burial follows in the St. Aloysius Cemetery.

A memorial has been established to the St. Aloysius Cemetery in Sturgis.

Dorothy was born December 7, 1916, at Sturgis, SD, to Edward and Gretchen (Weiland) Karrels. She graduated from St. Martin's Academy in Sturgis. Dorothy married Robert Burnham at Sundance, WY, on October 25th, 1940. She worked in several offices at the Meade County Courthouse before being elected as the Meade County Auditor in 1966. She retired from that position in 1973. She was a member of the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic church. Dorothy enjoyed reading, crocheting, and was an avid bridge player.

Survivors include two sons, Jerry Burnham and his wife Charlotte Wilson, Tom and his wife Linda Burnham, all of Sturgis; one daughter Barbara Griffin, Newark, CA; 8 grandchildren and their spouses, Troy and Susan Burnham, Cindy and Shawn Cruickshank, Tammy and David Stewart, Roger Burnham, Tera and Jason Digmann, Scott Burnham, Christy and Ed Seibert, Debbie Griffin; 7 great-grandchildren, Josey, Katlynn, Colton, Justin, Connor, Annaka and Rylan.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Robert Karrels and her husband Robert Burnham.