Dorothy was born April 28, 1927, the 6th child of 9 to Emil Emanuel Reinhold (of Swedish decent) and Hazel Vernie (Jensen) Reinhold (of Danish, Pennsylvania Dutch and English decent).
Dorothy was a missionary always sharing the love of God, His word of encouragement and comfort...along with her many food dishes. Her mission field varied from being a telephone operator to teaching in many country schools right out of high school.
She married Willard Grenz in 1948. In 1950, Willard died of a bad heart from rheumatic fever as a child.
She then taught at Morristown near Lantry, SD. Dorothy attended Northern State College and taught at Ordway before moving to New Underwood working as an LPN, then moved to Rapid City and taught at Schaefer School near Box Elder in 1954.
Dorothy and John Gapp were married in 1955. Their long union was blessed with love and devotion. Their hospitality was enjoyed by their many family friends.
Dorothy was an Avon lady for many years, receiving the Sales Representative of the Year for SD one year. She loved leading bible studies for friends, customers and neighbors which led to starting a church first in their basement and then building Piedmont Community Bible Church, Inc. in 1960. Dorothy cooked for church camps and special dinner gatherings. She loved to teach little children about Jesus in Sunday School. Dorothy had a powerful faith and testimony of God healing her of different ailments and injuries. In later years, her mission was the hospital and doctor’s offices and finally the nursing home.
Dorothy loved many things, including collecting shoes, planting many flower and vegetable gardens, and learning good clean jokes to share at the appropriate time to make people smile. She loved to play the piano, accordion, and harmonica, and sing songs about the Lord and decorating for all the holidays and seasons, having parties or big gatherings and making beautiful cakes. She preferred to raise her own chickens as that was the best tasting chicken and she was known for her fried chicken dinners and caramel rolls which she loved to share. She loved raising horses.
Dorothy Iris Reinhold Grenz Gapp, 89, passed away peacefully, March 18, 2017, in Rapid City, SD. God wrapped His arms around Dorothy and took her home after a long life of serving God by serving others.
Dorothy is survived by four children, Duane Grenz, Rapid City, SD, Willard “Bill” Grenz (Linda), Sturgis, SD, Ronald (Jackie) Gapp, Piedmont, SD, and Patty Pottorff (Mark), Vienna, MO; 12 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren; Dorothy’s youngest sister, Ruth Humke of Longview, TX; and many nieces and nephews.
Dorothy is preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Willard Grenz; her second husband, John Gapp, and their 3 babies, James, Thomas, and Patti; her brothers, Carl “Dick,” Earl “Tom,” Paul “Brownie,” Marvin “Tige” and James Reinhold; and sisters, Rosa Davis and Ila Reinhold.
A memorial has been established to support the youth ministry of Rainbow Bible Ranch, operated by the Larry and Robin Reinhold family which is the homestead where Dorothy grew up.
