Dorothy May Pranger, age 91, of Spearfish, passed away on Friday, April 25, 2014, at home.

A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at Kinkade Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, April 29, 2014, at 1:30pm, with Mr. Kline Capps officiating. Inurnment will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery.

Dorothy was born February 12, 1923, in Lebanon, SD to Victor and Carrie (Crane) Norris. She graduated from Gettysburg High School in 1941, and then completed a one-year course in cosmetology in 1942.

In 1945 she married James Lee Pranger of Platte, S.D. In the early part of their married life, Dorothy held various secretarial positions while her husband served as a telegraph operator for railroads in South Dakota and Iowa. In the early 1950's Dorothy and her husband attended special gospel meetings and came to know the Lord personally. This experience brought such a transformation to their lives that they wanted to share the gospel with others. They committed themselves to ministry and in 1955 were assigned by the American Sunday School Union to work in northeast Missouri. This was a rural ministry focused on youth and adults through Sunday Schools, Vacation Bible Schools, summer camps, and Bible studies. Dorothy was a vital part of this ministry. She was an excellent teacher, story teller, motivator, and organizer. After ten years in Missouri, they moved to Texas in a fund-raising capacity for the American Sunday School Union. Here Dorothy was involved in merchandising, local church work and care-giving. After several years of retirement in Texas, they returned to the Black Hills area in 2001.

Dorothy loved studying and teaching the Scripture. She loved children and was an avid youth worker. Her teaching and story-telling ability kept children spell-bound. Her last teaching assignment was to teach Bible lessons to the Spearfish Hillsview Church of Nazarene day-care students. She "retired" from this at 88 years of age. She also enjoyed music and often sang with her husband, James. She found delight in handwork, walking, reading, encouraging friends, and care-giving.

She will be remembered for her love for her Lord and her desire to share Him with others, her care-giving spirit, and her confidence that God was sovereign and in control of all things.

Those left to honor her memory are sister, Thelma Hepper, of Gettysburg, SD; brother, Raymond Norris, of McMinnville, Oregon; a number of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends in South Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, and Texas. She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, James; her parents, Victor and Carrie Norris; sisters, Helen, June, Betty; and brothers, Lewis, Lloyd, Dewayne, and James.

In lieu of flowers, memorial may be given to the Hospice of the Northern Hills, 1440 N Main St, Spearfish, SD 57783 or a fund that will be distributed to a Christian ministry.

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