Dorothy Catherine Tharp, 88, passed away October 14, 2011 in Longview, WA.
Dorothy was the second of three children, born on August 2, 1923, to Emil and Signe Nyberg in Oregon. The family moved to Toledo in the early 1930’s and settled on a farm east of town.
Dorothy graduated from Toledo High School in 1941. Her younger brother, Richard and sister, Nancy also attended Toledo High School. While in high school, she met her future husband Wilfred Tharp from Ryderwood, WA, the “man of her life” who shared her love of farming. They were married on August 16th, 1941 and settled on the family farm in Toledo in 1948. They had two children, a daughter Sonja Tharp Mickelsen and James Tharp. Dorothy continued to raise beef cattle after her husband’s passing in 1985. She was a determined lady who managed her farm until moving to Longview in 2007 to live in a retirement home.
Living her life by her Lutheran faith, Dorothy volunteered at Toledo Elementary and devoted her life to her family. She loved her friends and grandchildren.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her older sister, Nancy and her husband, Wilfred in 1982. She is survived by her brother Richard, Corvalis, OR; daughter, Sonja (Clinton) Mickelsen; and son, James (Sheryl) Tharp. She is also survived by grandchildren: Leah Mickelsen, Shelly Lawrence (Britt), Clayton Mickelsen (Kate), Pamela Olmstead (Kevin) and Erin Malunat (Horst); ten great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and five nieces and two nephews.
A graveside service is planned for 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 18th at Toledo Cemetery with Pastor Randy Faro officiating. A viewing is planned from 1:00-3:00 p.m., Tuesday at Fir Lawn Funeral Chapel in Toledo. A reception will follow the service at the home of Sonja (Tharp) Mickelsen at 299 Buckley Road, Toledo.
