Alvin Lee Wittler: June 15, 1931 – April 7, 2022
His loving wife, Myrtle and niece and nephew, Jon and Elsa Poole were by his side. Lee’s death was so unexpected his grandsons, Jason and Joshua and their mother Kathy were unable to be there. He died of pneumonia caused by heart failure. Lee was born June 15, 1931 to Louis Gene and Esther (Nickle) Wittler. He was the youngest of their four children, Athalie, Nola, Gene and Lee. Lee was preceded in death by his parents and two sons, Mark and Keith. He is survived by his wife, Myrtle (Kyzar) Wittler and nieces and nephews and their children. Most of his remaining family lives in Louisiana. Lee will be interred at Highland Memory Gardens in Lake Charles, LA. Lee worked for Sun Oil Co. for many years. In 1975, he was transferred to Cordero Coal Mine in Gillette. His position there was Manager of Purchasing and Warehousing. Lee worked there over twenty years before retiring. After retirement Lee served as Gillette Councilman for two terms. He also served on multiple city and state committees and civic organizations. Lee will be missed by his loving family, friends and colleagues. Cards of sympathy may be sent in care of Walker Funeral Home 410 Medical Arts Court, Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be expressed at www.gillettememorialchapel.com
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Dorothy Elaine (Preble) Wilson: 1951-2022
Dorothy Elaine (Preble) Wilson lost her battle with cancer on April 21, 2022 in Gillette, Wyoming. Dorothy was born to Mardella and Leland Preble on July 16, 1951 in Hay Springs NE. The family moved to Rapid City, SD where Dorothy grew up and spent most of her life. She met Francis Wilson and they were married November 18, 1968 and were together for over 35 years. The couple made their home in Rapid City and welcomed three children into the world – Michael, Michele, and Melanie. Dorothy worked and managed the Sooper Dooper bakery for many years while her children grew up. She was always involved with the kids’ school and extracurricular activities, and she very rarely missed a performance, game or meet. After her career in the bakery ended, she opened an in-home daycare. She spent many years taking care of children including her grandkids, nieces, and nephews. She loved doing daycare more than anything and would reminisce for hours with stories of the kids over the years and smile while doing it. She retired early due to a car accident and spent time traveling to visit her children and grandchildren, going on trips with her sisters, and even moved to Phoenix for a short time. Dorothy was an avid dog lover, having had several of her own over the years. While in Phoenix she worked with a dog rescue by helping to transport dogs to foster homes. She moved back to Rapid City where she lived until her cancer diagnosis in November 2021. She fought hard, but in the end lost her battle. She was able to spend the last few months of her life with family. She was preceded in death by her parents Leland and Mardella Preble. She is survived by her children Michael (Arlie) Wilson, Midwest City, OK, Michele (Steven) Weber, Austin, Tx, and Melanie Ortiz, Phoenix, AZ; her sisters Donna Keliher, Lakewood, CO, and Diana Shannon, Gillette, WY, brothers; Melvin Preble, Rapid City, SD and Mark Preble, Hermosa, SD: her grandchildren Jade (Emily) Greener, Kayton Wilson, Jesse Wilson, Hayden Powers, Hayley Wilson and Abigail Wilson; her great grandchildren Scout Greener, Olive Greener and Theodore Wilson; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. A memorial service is being held at 10:00 am on Monday May 2 at St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Rapid City, Pastor Douglas Free will officiate. In lieu of flowers, in remembrance of Dorothy’s life and passion for dogs, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to The Humane Society of the Black Hills, 1820 E Saint Patrick St, Rapid City, SD 57703.
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Obituaries on County 17 are a free service to our community. If you would like us to publish an obituary for a family member you have lost, please email us at obits@county17.com.
Some obituaries have been republished with permission from Gillette Memorial Chapel.
