Dorothy Schoonver
RONAN – Dorothy Schoonver, 96, of Ronan, passed away on Tuesday, March 1, at the Mountain View Care Center in Ronan.
Dorothy was born on August 10, 1914 in Wilsall, Mont. She was the third of six children born to William Perry Daugherty and Maude Duff. In 1927, when Dorothy was 12, the family moved to the Moiese Valley. She attended grade school in Moiese and graduated from high school in Dixon. On November 29, 1933, she married Leland Schoonover in Ronan. She was the last remaining member of her generation.
Dorothy was lovingly called “Dot” by all of her siblings and close friends. She raised prize-winning Gladiolas which she sold to garden catalogs and to people in Polson. Among her many talents were cooking, gardening, and sewing. She was a Campfire leader, bank teller, and our hero. She kept us all grounded and normal. She even raised chickens and turkeys about a block from the Elks Club on Sixth Avenue.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, both parents, two brothers - Elmer and Woody, and three sisters – Helen Coleman, Frances Emmons, and Billy Phillips and one son-in-law, Gerald Sagmiller.
She is survived by her daughters, Joann Sagmiller, and Carol (Ronald) Plouffe of Polson. She is also survived by three grandsons, Daniel Sagmiller (Tracey) of Piedmont, S.D., John Sagmiller (Lori) of Polson, and Ronald Plouffe, Jr. (Candice) of Kiln, MS; four granddaughters, Jodie Gouge (Victor), Audrey Plouffe (Mike Hanson), Lissa Peel (Dennis), all of Polson and Collette Plouffe (Lance Whittaker) of Longmont, Colo. Dorothy leaves fifteen great-grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by five nieces and one nephew, with those locally being Marcia Kelley of Missoula, Wiletta Bocksnick and Dan Daugherty of Charlo.
She lived the last three and a half years at Mountain View Care Center in Ronan where she was given the greatest kindness and respect by the staff and owners. They treated her as if she was their family. Her ingenuous sayings brought humor to the home, and the staff would write them on the chalkboard for everyone to enjoy. She was truly loved but her passing was both peaceful and without pain.
Our gratitude is beyond measure to Dr. Cara Harrop and Mountain View Care Center for all they did for our Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, and Great-Great Grandmother. We love you Mama!
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be planned for this summer. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family online at www.groganfuneralhome.com. The staff of Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory, Polson, considers it a privilege to care for Mrs. Schoonover’s family.
