Dorothy Tiedeman

April 2, 1942 - October 14, 2024

Funeral services will be 10AM Monday, October 21, 2024 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 101 S 5th Street, Beresford, SD with burial to follow in the church cemetery. Visitation is 3-5PM Sunday at the church. Memorials may be directed to Ava’s House, 1320 W 17th St, Sioux Falls, SD 57104 or to Children’s Home Society, 801 N Sycamore Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57110.   

Dorothy Ravenswaay was born on April 2, 1942, near Ireton, Iowa, to Arie and Jacoba (Vanden Hoorn) Ravenswaay.  She attended country school through the 8th grade, and then worked as a hired girl cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry for families who had newborn babies.  She later started working at Otis Radio Factory, currently known as Coilcraft, in Hawarden, IA. Dorothy was united in marriage to Harlan Tiedeman, June 27, 1969, in Ireton. They initially lived in Hull, IA, but later moved to the Tiedeman family farm near Hull. In 1979, they moved to a farm near Beresford, South Dakota. In 1985, Dorothy started work as a Dietary Aide at Bethesda Care Center in Beresford, SD.  In 1987, the family moved to a home in Beresford. Dorothy continued working at Bethesda two days a week and babysitting the other three days. In 2000, she started working as Harlan’s receptionist at the new store in Beresford, H&R Appliance. In December of 2023, Dorothy moved into the Bethesda Care Center to be closer to Harlan, the love of her life.

Dorothy was an amazing farm wife and mother, raising four children, and keeping such an immaculately clean house that you would never believe a family of six lived there. She loved hosting company, baking all kinds of goodies, such as fresh baked bread, cinnamon and caramel rolls, bars, and we believe, but have no proof, the perfectly round cookie most likely originated from her kitchen. Old-time Gospel hymns were always playing on a radio in her kitchen and you could hear her singing along from anywhere in the house. Her quick wit, infectious laughter, and warm greetings always let you know you were welcome in her home. She was an active member of the Lands Lutheran Church of rural Hudson, SD and Emmanual Lutheran Church of Beresford, SD. Wherever Harlan went, Dorothy was by his side. They enjoyed travelling, riding motorcycle and going to many of the grandkids’ school events. She also loved to go shopping, going out to eat, and don’t forget the ICE CREAM!!! Ice cream always brought a smile to her face. Among Dorothy’s other hobbies, she loved to do search-a-words, reading books, going to the movies, and getting popcorn with M&M’s. Dorothy’s favorite color was the many shades of purple, not only in her clothing selections, but also her fingernails were usually a shade of purple as well.

She is survived by her four children - daughter, Janet (Timothy) Renken of Ireton, Iowa; son, Michael (Angela) Tiedeman of Beresford; daughter, Jodean (Bradley) Rippentrop of Brandon; son, Ryan (Rachael) Tiedeman of Beresford; 11 grandchildren, Andrew (Ellen) Renken, Alex Renken, Alyssa Renken, Gaval Valder, Tavyn Valder, Thatcher Tiedeman, Macy Rippentrop, Riley Rippentrop, Rebecca Tiedeman, Larissa Tiedeman, Jase Tiedeman; one great-granddaughter, Halle Renken with another Renken expected in late March. She is also survived by a brother-in-law, Dale (Lori) Shumaker, and a sister-in-law, Carol Tiedeman, and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Harlan Tiedeman, a granddaughter, Amanda Renken; her sisters and their spouses, Gertrude (Donald) Vander Ploeg, Jeanette (Peter) Netten, Bernice (Marion) DeKock, Anna (Albert) Van Bruggen, Arlene (Jake) DeBruin and a twin brother and sister in infancy.

Visitation: Sunday, October 20, 2024, 3-5 p.m.  Funeral: Monday, October 21, 2024, 10 a.m.

Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 101 S 5th Street, Beresford, SD