Wilma W. Dotson, 84

Wilma was born on April 8, 1938 to Otto and Martha Wenger in Newark, New Jersey.

After her graduation from high school, she attended the Katharine Gibbs secretarial school in Montclair, New Jersey, eventually becoming a translator for the French national parachute team.

She found her way to Heidelberg, Germany, where she then met Charles Dotson, who was in the U.S. Army. They married in 1963 and had two daughters.

After years of living in Alaska, the family moved to Libby upon Charles retiring from the military. Many knew Wilma through her years of working at the Lincoln County Credit Union.

However she had many and varied interests outside of work. She did needlepoint. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed all plants, trees and the natural world in general. She enjoyed reading a mystery or going to a play. Her father was a singer and he developed her love for opera, classical music and ballet.

She was a collector who enjoyed antiques, fine china and paper dolls.

Her holiday lunch was a much coveted invitation. She loved travel and seeing the world.

She is survived by her husband, Charles of Plymouth, Minnesota, and her daughter Gabrielle and her husband, Glenn Hughes and daughter Sheila with her husband, Tad Thorstenson, as well as their two children Rachel and her husband CJ Kannawin and Ian Thorstenson.

As a founding member of Kootenai Pets For Life, Wilma found much happiness volunteering her time to animals. Even after she moved to Minnesota in 2010 she continued to donate from afar. Any donation made in her name would be a much appreciated honor.