Dorothy Breen

Dorothy Mae Koehler, 83, died March 6. She was born in Ritzville, to Anna Rutz Braun and Carl Fredrick Koehler.

Dorothy was the second of seven children. She was only four pounds at birth and her mother’s sister, Hattie, was a nurse and was able to care for Dorothy. Clifford, Helen, Emma, Julia, Donald and Eleanor comprised her brothers and sisters.

The Koehler Farm was founded by her grandparents Charles and Emma Koehler in 1914, a 1,600-acre wheat ranch and 400 acres of range for a cattle operation. Located on the farm was McElroy Lake, where the family enjoyed swimming, fishing, boating and ice skating. In the winter, ice was cut from the lake and stored in their ice house.

Dorothy attended first grade at Ritzville and then attended grade school at Paha through sixth grade. She next attended Lind High School graduating in 1941. Dorothy helped with the raising of her siblings and was her mother’s helper cooking for a large farm crew. It was a seven-mile trip to Lind and Ritzville from the farm.

On Nov. 2, 1943, the family moved to Walla Walla. Dorothy worked at the Baker-Boyer Bank from 1945-1951.

On June 20, 1948, Dorothy married Eugene Breen (Saturno) at Emmanuel Lutheran Church. Eugene died in August 1990. They had a son, Douglas Breen Saturno, and daughter, Karen Breen.

Dorothy was a lifetime member of the Ladies V.F.W. Auxiliary and was a volunteer at the Veterans Hospital for many years. She worked at Roy’s Chuck Wagon and the Washington Odd Fellows Home and was also a caregiver.

Dorothy was an excellent cook and homemaker. Meals were always a family delight. Proper was her look and it showed in the way she dressed. Her memory was keen and she always was current on politics and the news, not to forget game shows. Bingo was her sport and she never missed a game.

Dorothy loved animals and was very proud of her German heritage. Her smile was warming to all and she was always interested in what you were doing. Most of all she was a woman of God. Dorothy had 10 nephews and two nieces. She is survived by her son, Douglas Saturno and his wife Malinda; grandsons Julian, Lexington and Jacson Saturno; and her daughter Karen Breen and grandsons Max and Nick Webber; great-grandchildren, Harleigh Paighton, Levi Webber; sisters, Emma Brittain, Eleanor Tomlinson; brother-in-law, Donald Tomlinson; sister-in-law, Mrs. Donald (JoAnn) Koehler.

Services will be held at Emmanuel Luthern Church, on Thursday, March 12, at 11 a.m., with reception to follow. Internment at Lutheran Cemetery Ritzville, on Friday, March 13, at 11 a.m.

Memorials can be made to Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Blue Mountain Humane Society, Italian Heritage Association or donors choice through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder.