Dorothy McKinney

Dorothy passed with her family by her side, who give a gift of gratitude for the urology nurses who cared for her. Her main caretaker was her granddaughter, Melanie Allen and her family as well as great granddaughter, Destiny Trujillo.

She was one of a kind. She had her own businesses, 3 at one time, and provided services for hair care for many women in Rapid City. Dorothy would work late evenings in order to serve those women who worked days and needed time to be styled after normal hours. She always had a lap full of yarn and was always crocheting a blanket for a grand, or great grand child. Ronalda and Kathy, Dorothy’s daughter, worked Dorothy for many, many years. She was an inspiration to women, who rarely had the opportunity to become a business owner at that time. Black Hills Beauty Shop will be fondly remembered.

Dorothy was the youngest of six children in the Lamm family, raised north of Philip, SD. She came to Rapid City and attended beauty college in 1952. She went to work at Black Hills Beauty Shop after graduation. She met Arthur (Mac) McKinney and married her soulmate in 1954. She had 4 children, Bruce, (Butch) McKinney, Michael McKinney ( wife Pamela), Carol Patridge (husband Steve) and Kathleen Bessette (husband Doug). She was also a parent of 2 step-sons, Arthur McKinney and Steve McKinney. In 1959 she also adopted her sister’s children, Tommy Roth, Rudy Roth and Janet Lewis. Arthur was in the Air Force, and gone quite often during the first 10 years, and Dorothy was busy growing her beauty industry. She definitely made Rapid City Beautiful. Governor Bill Janklow declared August 17, 2002 “Dorothy Lamm McKinney Day" acknowledging her accomplishments as a business owner for 50 years.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Mac, all of her brothers and sisters, special nephews, Bobby Lamm and Tommy Roth, and a granddaughter, Jolene Mitchell.

She is survived by her children listed above, She had13 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and 4 great, great grandchildren. She also is survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews. GG as she was known by all will be greatly missed.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, December 27, at Behrens-Wilson Funeral Home in Rapid City.

Visitation will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, December 28, at the Rush Funeral Home in Philip, with a rosary service at 10:30 a.m.

Graveside services will follow the rosary service at the Masonic Cemetery in Philip.

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