Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

Dorothy Wilhelmine Schweighart Brunk, 96, formerly of Thermopolis, Wyoming, died Monday, October 03, 2016 in Aurora, OH. Dorothy lived the first 85 years of her life in Washakie and Hot Springs Counties, Wyoming involved with ranching, family, and community volunteerism. In 2005, she moved to Ohio to be near her family. She was born on February 3, 1920, at the homestead home of her parents, Charles and Wilhelmine Schweighart of Cottonwood Creek, near Winchester, Wyoming. Dot, as she was affectionately called, was the third child in a family of nine. She graduated from Tschigg School on Cottonwood Creek. Dorothy was a member of the Hot Springs Historical Society, the Pioneer Association, Farm Bureau, and the Cancer Survivors support group in Thermopolis, WY. She volunteered at the Hot Springs County Museum and activities at the Senior Center. Dot and her husband Lee were sponsors of the Thermopolis High School Junior Rodeo Club. She was involved in bowling leagues, throat cultures for the school rheumatic fever program, parent-teacher association, a Girl Scout leader, and a chaperone for many youth outings. Dot was a successful gardener, baker of cinnamon rolls, cookies, pies and fruitcakes, a, seamstress, and leader of exercise classes-- aqua-exercise in Wyoming and arm chair exercises in Ohio at her retirement community. Dorothy married Lee M. Brunk in El Paso, Texas, September 14, 1942, shortly before he shipped out for the Pacific front. They lived their life in Wyoming. Born to them were two daughters, Nancy Lee Lewis, Topeka, Kansas; and Linda Fay Robertson, Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Dot is survived by her daughters, one son-in-law, Lon Lewis; one grandson Corey Lewis of Blue Lake, CA, and one granddaughter, Michelle Robertson Settecase, Aurora, OH, and six great-grandchildren, Morgan, Abigail, Hunter and Bodie Lewis, and Cheyenne and Jackson Settecase. She is survived by one sister, Alice Beckley of Ten Sleep, WY; one brother, Carl Schweighart, of Worland, WY. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lee; four brothers, Edward, Herman, Fred and Allen Schweighart; her sisters Marie Pitt and Myrtle Davis, her parents, one grandson Bart Lewis, and son-in-law Darrell Robertson.

Memorial services were held at the Federated Church in Chagrin Falls, OH. For memorials, the family suggests contributions be made to elder care in your community.