Dorothy O'Keefe

Dorothy Marie O’Keefe, 81, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away on November 3, 2024, at Avera St. Luke's Hospital, Aberdeen.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 11, 2024, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

A time of fellowship and luncheon will follow Mass at the parish hall.

Interment will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery following the lunch.

Visitation will be one hour before Mass at the church.

There will be a gathering at Schriver’s Memorial Fellowship Center on Sunday night from 7-8:30 p.m.; all are welcome to come and share condolences with Dorothy’s family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her honor to Storybook Land and the Sportsman’s Club of Brown County/Terry O’Keefe Education Center.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.schriversmemorial.com. Services will be recorded and posted on Schriver’s website following the service.

Dorothy Marie Treece was born April 29, 1943, to Lieutenant James and Elsie (Lanz) Treece at  Fort Lewis, Tacoma, WA. As a child of a military family, she lived at Keesler Air Force Base, Biloxi, Mississippi; Clark Air Force Base, Philippines; Tampa, FL; Omaha, Nebraska; Albrook Air Force Base, Panama; Falls Church, Virginia; Novato, California and Wheelus Air Force Base Tripoli, Libya.

Dorothy graduated from Novato High School in Novato, California, in 1961. She attended the College of Marin, CA, and the University of Maryland, ultimately graduating from Pacific Lutheran University in 1967 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education.

She married the love of her life, Captain Terence A. O’Keefe, at Fort Lewis, Tacoma, WA, on August 6, 1966. The couple moved to Aberdeen, SD, in January of 1967, thus embarking on the greatest adventure of their lives: raising their four children. Dorothy remained a homemaker until 1990, when she began substitute teaching with the Aberdeen Catholic School System, sharing her knowledge and experience with a new generation of children in Aberdeen.

Dorothy was very involved in the Aberdeen community, having served as President of Aberdeen La Sertoma, Dakota Ballet, Chapter AX of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, and Board Chair of Avera St. Luke’s Hospital. She also held offices in the Roncalli Booster Club, Band 6 Altar Society and General Altar Society, Nyoda Girl Scout Council, Presentation Auxiliary, and Sertoma Club.  She was a past member of the Foster Grandparent Advisory Board, Dacotah Prairie Museum Board, Avera Hospice Board and was serving on the Hatterscheidt Foundation Board of Directors.  She also volunteered as a Girl Scout leader and Cub Scout Den Mother for her children. She was named The First Lady of Aberdeen in 2007 for her continued commitment to community service in the area. Together with Terry, she was inducted into the Roncalli Hall of Fame in 2003.

Dorothy enjoyed traveling the world with her family and friends. She never passed on a chance to play cards or games with anyone willing, especially Bridge, Mah Jongg and Hand and Foot.  Dorothy particularly enjoyed watching her children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews at countless sporting events and fine arts performances, always supporting their efforts through every outstanding production and every win or loss.

Grateful for having shared her life are her four children: Barbara (Gregg) Magera of Aberdeen, James (Shannon) O’Keefe of Aberdeen, Robert (Lori) O’Keefe of Mitchell, and Michael (Michelle) O’Keefe of Aberdeen; granddaughters Katie (William) Janssen, of Canton, SD, Emily Magera, McKenna O’Keefe, Addison O’Keefe and Riley O’Keefe, all of Aberdeen; grandsons Jacob O’Keefe, of Port Orange, FL and Thomas O’Keefe, of Aberdeen; brother James (Trudy) Treece of Omaha, NE; sisters-in-law Marcia O’Keefe of Hopkins, MN, Jan (Ross) Schochenmaier of Aberdeen, and JoAnn O’Keefe of Omaha, NE; and 16 nieces and nephews.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband Terry, parents James and Elsie; brothers-in-law, John O’Keefe, Emmett O’Keefe and William O’Keefe; sisters-in-law Janet Auble, Lynn O’Keefe, Patricia O’Keefe; and nephew Joseph Auble.