Dorothy (Wentzel) Friman

Dorothy (Wentzel) Friman, 94, formerly of Tripp, passed away on May 24th at Oakview Terrace in Freeman. Funeral Services will be held on May 30th, at 10:30 am at First American Lutheran Church of Tripp. Burial will follow at the Greenwood Cemetery of Marion. Visitation will be Wednesday, May 29th, at the church from 5-7 pm with a Prayer Service to be held at 7 pm. 

Dorothy May (Wentzel) Friman of Tripp,SD passed away Friday, May 24th, 2024, at Oakview Terrace Nursing Home in Freeman, SD at the age of 94.

Dorothy was born on April 4, 1930, in Turner County to Herman and Hattie (Janssen) Wentzel. She was baptized October 12, 1930 at the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in Parker, SD and confirmed in her faith on April 21, 1946 at the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church. Dorothy married Kenneth (Jim) Friman May 31, 1950. The couple lived in the Hurley, Parker, Marion area for several years. During that time Dorothy helped on the farm, and when they moved to town she worked at J&E Market and Marion Dry Cleaners. In 1967 Dorothy, Jim and children moved to Tripp. Her work experience in Tripp was Weber’s grocery on the dry goods side; later in September of 1973 she began working for the Tripp Good Samaritan Center where she worked as a medication aide and CNA until April 1996 when she decided to retire after serving 22.5 years. She then decided to help her husband with mowing lawns.

Dorothy was a member of American Legion Auxiliary, the Good Samaritan Center Auxiliary, and the First American Lutheran Church Ladies Aide.

Her enjoyment in life was taking trips with her husband, babysitting her grandchildren, going to grandchildren’s events, and spending weeks at a time at her daughter’s.

Dorothy’s family was most important to her and she never missed out on anything with her family. The best thing about Dorothy was her welcoming smile, laughter, and huge heart.

Dorothy said “It gives me a good feeling of being able to help someone and it also feels good being needed.” This is what we will miss the most about Dorothy, as well as her unconditional love and care for each one of us.

Grateful for having shared her life is her daughter, Sharon (Terry) Conrad, Sioux Falls; Sons: Jim (Becky), Tripp; John (Sherry) Tripp. Eight grandchildren: Jennifer Vermillion, Tea SD; Dan (Heather) Conrad, Sioux Falls; Tony (Olivia) Conrad, Sioux Falls; Lisa (Bill) Erck, Sioux Falls; Jeff (Trista) Friman, Tripp, Kelley (Austin) Eggebraaten, Hartford, SD.; Morgan (Damon) Macleary, Rapid City, SD; Jacey Friman, Tripp. Thirteen great grandchildren: Dustin Vermillion, Kenisha Harrison, Zahra Harrison, Isabelle Conrad, Tyler (Kara) Erck and Emily Erck, Ryne and Cora Friman, Emery, Audrey and Rylie Eggebraaten, Karsyn Macleary; Three great great grandchildren: Nora Vermillion, Gavin Geiken, Harrison Erck. Special extended family: Liza Geiken, and the Allan Hale family; sister-in-law Margaret Adel, White, SD; brother-in-law George Sample, Flandreau, SD. Three nieces: Pearl (Garris) Preheim, Houston, MO, Honey Wentzel, Parker, SD, Barb Wentzel Papillion, NE, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband Jim, infant daughter Sheila, grandson Steve Vermillion, parents Herman and Hattie Wentzel, brother Hank (Edna) Wentzel; Nephews- Ronald, Roy and Rocky Wentzel; 13 sister-in-laws and 11 brother-in-laws