Dorothy was born the daughter of Wallace and Bessie Marchant Smith on November 23, 1920, in Adel, Iowa. Following the death of her parents at a young age, she moved to Lynnville and was raised by her uncle Verl and aunt Mae Marchant. She graduated from Lynnville High School with the Class of 1938. She then attended William Penn College in Oskaloosa, Iowa and received her teaching certificate in 1940 and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1968. She was united in marriage to Everett Willemsen on August 12, 1945, in Newton, Iowa. The couple resided in Lynnville much of their lives where Dorothy was an educator at Newburg School, Huxley School and Lynnville-Sully School respectively. Dorothy was a member of the Grinnell United Methodist Church and a past member of the Lynnville Friends Church where she had taught Sunday School for many years. Her family and her faith was her life. Her enjoyments included traveling to Arizona and Florida, taking nature walks, collecting sea shells, and watching the beautiful sunsets. Dorothy is survived by her husband of 62 years, Everett Willemsen of Grinnell; her children, Saundra (George) Zoto of West Barnstable, Massachusetts, and Brian (Teri) Willemsen of Streamwood, Illinois; 4 grandchildren, Michelle and Leigh Ann Zoto, and Dan and Brenda Willemsen; and her great grandson, Goran Perley. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; and her brother, Paul Smith in 1975. Memorials may be directed to the Grinnell United Methodist Church or to St. Francis Manor.