Helen B. Dorothy was born January 2, 1905, at Blakesburg, Iowa, to Grant and Anna (Van Cleve) Dorothy.

In 1906, when she was an infant, the family moved to a homestead in the Ottumwa, South Dakota, area.  In 1907 the family moved into Philip.  Helen grew up in Philip and graduated from Philip High School in 1923.  She attended college in Brookings, South Dakota, where she received a two year business degree.

Helen was united in marriage to Charles O. West on July 6, 1929, at Belvidere, South Dakota.  They resided in Philip the rest of their lives.  Helen and Charles both worked at Dorothy Brothers Garage.

After Charles' death on February 21, 1968, Helen continued to work at Dorothy Brothers as head bookkeeper until her retirement in 1985.

Helen was a member of the First Lutheran Church and was a charter member of the Haakon County Business and Professional Women.  She was dedicated to her family and will be greatly missed.

Grateful for having shared her life are her two daughters, Joan Cross and her husband, Jerry, of Buffalo, Wyoming, and Jean Schoniger, and her husband, Lee, of Philip; a son, Michael West and his wife, Marcia, of Philip; 17 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great grandson; and a host of other relatives and friends.

In addition to her husband, Charles West, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Kay West; a great-granddaughter, Audra Nicole Smith; her parents; three brothers, Marion Dorothy, Earl Dorothy, and Lester "Hap" Dorothy; four sisters, Edna Dorothy in infancy, Mary Carr, Goldie Kibling, and Bessie (Betty) Shields.

A memorial is established.

Services
Tuesday, January 2, 1996
10:00 a.m.
First Lutheran Church
Philip, South Dakota

Officiating
Reverend Hans Sacrison
Reverend Kenneth Duggan

Music
Marilyn Millage - Organist
The Haakon County Crooners - Marlis Doud, Director

Ushers
Branden West - Zachary West - Melan Smith

Active Pallbearers (All Grandchildren)
Karen Cross - Kathleen (Cross) Born
Nancy (Cross) Ratcliff - Janice (Cross) Anderson
Michael Schoniger - Beth (Schoniger) Smith
Mary (Schoniger) Ragland - Bruce Schoniger
Michael West - Douglas West
Patrick West - Bradley West
Cindy (Dietrich) Kraft - Daryl Dietrich
David Dietrich - Susan (Dietrich) O'Connor
Darla (Dietrich) Parsons

Honorary Pallbearers
All relatives and friends in attendance

Interment
Masonic Cemetery
Philip, South Dakota