DYCK: Dorothy May (nee Griffin)
June 29, 1930 鈥� April 19, 2017
Dorothy May (nee Griffin) Dyck of Bethany Pioneer Village, Middle Lake, SK, was called home to be with her Lord and Saviour on Wednesday, April 19, 2017. She was 86 years of age.聽 Dorothy, the second child of Raymond and Louise (nee Parschauer) Griffin was born at St. Elizabeth鈥檚 Hospital, Humboldt, SK, on June 29, 1930. She was raised on the family farm seven-and-a-half miles east of Middle Lake. Dorothy attended Merrywood School until Grade 10, then moved to the home of her maternal grandparents in town and attended Middle Lake School. After completing Grade 11, she spent a year at Briercrest Bible School where she completed a one-year bookkeeping course, then returned home. It was during that time that she met Henry Dyck, who was a hired man on the Griffin family farm. Their special relationship culminated in their marriage on June 26, 1951. Dorothy and Henry聽 built a life together on the Griffin farm which they bought, and raised their family. Dorothy helped Henry during the day, but most of her time was spent on her domestic chores of cooking and cleaning, and growing a huge garden, with produce that could be preserved for later.聽 At the end of the day she would sew, making beautiful dresses and clothes, knitting socks and sweaters, making quilts and throw rugs, and embroidering pillow cases and tea towels to decorate the house. Dorothy鈥檚 true passion was to sing and share God鈥檚 love through music and scripture. She would play her guitar and Omnichord and praise Him, singing at church, at care homes and with the Sloughgrass Singers. Dorothy started to work part-time at Bethany Pioneer Village when her children were teenagers thinking that it would give the daughters more responsibility at home and would give the family a little extra spending money. She worked as a care aide and then as the activities director for many years. She saw a need and started a Saturday morning Sonshine class where she would sing, read scriptures and pray with residents faithfully every Saturday, teaching the residents the promises of God, and using her gifts of music and caring. Dorothy was very community minded. She started a local 4-H Homecraft Club in St. Benedict and expanded it to Middle Lake to ensure that all of the local children could join and learn skills in sewing, crafts, cooking and woodworking, and encouraged others in the community to help in this education. Dorothy spent innumerable hours volunteering to make the local community a better place and made sure that her family learned to share their talents, give back to the community, and do what they could when they saw a need. As well, she served in the Middle Lake Gospel Church, making quilts for missionaries and working with the Ladies Mission Circle, Awana Club and, of course, ministering through singing. Dorothy followed God all of her life. She was baptized as an infant in the Lutheran Church, but joined the small gospel church where she served, worshipped, sang and grew in her faith. She accepted Christ as her personal savior and followed God into the waters of baptism as a believer as her faith grew. In 2002, Dorothy and Henry moved to British Columbia. They built a house in Merritt and, eventually settled in Abbotsford. They became members of Clearbrook Mennonite Brethren Church and served as deacons. The last three years, life was a struggle for Dorothy as her health deteriorated, daily activities became difficult and more help was needed. She and Henry returned to Saskatchewan in April 2016 to be closer to family and the help that was required.聽 Dorothy became a resident of聽 Aspen Manor at Bethany Pioneer Village. Throughout her life, her trust in God was unwavering, and the God who she loved and served has taken her home. 鈥淲ell done good and faithful servant.鈥� (Matthew聽 25:21). Dorothy will be lovingly remembered and dearly missed by her husband of 65 years, Henry Dyck; their four daughters: Debora Hill, Shirley (Bert) Guest, Edith (Rob) Arthur, and Janice (David) Paslawski; grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Chelsea Guest, Tyler (Candie) Guest and daughter Layla, Dustin Guest, Cassidy Guest, Dennis Sewap, George Sewap, and Stephanie Sewap and son Elisha; Hardi (Keryn) Sulimma and children Ayden, Evalyn, and Levi, Megan (Taylor) Seier, Sara Arthur (Sascha daSilva), Matthew Paslawski, Adam Paslawski, and Mikhaila Paslawski; and by her sister, Olga Meszaros. She was predeceased by a daughter, Brenda (in infancy); and by her parents, Edward Raymond and Louise (nee Parschauer) Griffin. The Funeral Service was held at Middle Lake Gospel Church, Middle Lake, on Saturday, April 22, 2017, at 2:00 p.m., officiated by Pastor Ryan Schnee. The scripture reader was Megan Seier and the eulogy was delivered by Rob Arthur. Music ministry was provided by Marliss and Larry Jeffries, Matthew, Adam and Mikhaila Paslawski, Debora Hill and Hardi Sulimma. An honor guard was formed by staff members of Bethany Pioneer Village. Pallbearers were Matthew Paslawski, Adam Paslawski, Cassidy Guest, Sara Arthur, Mikhaila Paslawski, and Hardi Sulimma. Interment followed at Middle Lake Gospel Church Cemetery in the Middle Lake district. Memorial donations may be directed to Bethany Pioneer Village or Mennonite Central Committee. Schuler-Lefebvre Funeral Chapel, Humboldt, SK.
