11/26/2025
Dorothy Marie Koch
July 10,1942 – November 18, 2025
Dorothy Marie Koch went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the early morning hours of November 18 at the age of 83. She had family by her side in the Red Deer hospital as she peacefully passed. Many hours were spent with her by family and friends in the last 6 months as she suffered from congestive heart failure.
Dorothy was born on July 10, 1942, on the family farm south of Delburne, Alberta. She was the third child to arrive at the home of her parents Glen McTavish Waddell and Thelma Alice Waddell (Smith). In her early years, Dorothy enjoyed the farm and her siblings. Dorothy attended elementary school in Lousana, and then High School in Delburne, and then in Three Hills at Prairie High.
Tragically, Dorothy’s mother Thelma passed away on September 5, 1956, from kidney disease. During this time, all the siblings: Willis, Beverly, Dorothy and Sylvia had to adapt to life without their mother. Work still needed to be done on the farm and in the house as they cared for each other physically and emotionally. In 1958, their dad married Olive Ruth Guynup, and later, Ronald Glen was born to Glen and Olive Waddell to complete the clan of 5 children.
After High School, Dorothy found work in Three Hills at the Public Grocery. She first met Willard Koch when he came to the grocery store. When it was discovered by Willard’s parents why he was offering to get the groceries, it may have been said that perhaps he was sent there even more often. Later, Dorothy also found work as a local telephone operator for AGT. Dorothy and Willard further developed their relationship while attending Mt. Olive Evangelical Free Church. During their courting and engagement, they served others in the church by teaching Sunday School. Dorothy and Willard were married on June 2, 1962. Soon after the wedding, they started a mixed farming career raising cattle and grain near the family farm where Willard was raised northwest of Three Hills. In 1963, Cindy was born to Dorothy and Willard, and then Cameron in 1965, and Arlene in 1968. Serving in the church continued to be important to Dorothy and Willard as they raised a family. However, it was not only children they raised, but they also built a herd of purebred Charolais cattle during the years of 1975 to 1995. They appreciated the support of the community for their business. On the farm, Dorothy loved hosting family and friends, loved to keep a beautiful yard and gardens, and loved to preserve jams and fruit. Her pies and desserts were a favorite among many of her family and friends.
Dorothy enjoyed many years of good health but had suffered childhood rheumatic fever as well as rheumatoid arthritis throughout all her senior years. Her enthusiasm for hosting was seldom tempered even when she was experiencing arthritic pain or knee and hip surgeries.
Dorothy is survived in life by her husband Willard Eugene Koch, her children Cindy Fay Koppatschek (Fritz) of Brookings, SD, Cameron Roy Koch (Coralie) of Three Hills, AB, and Arlene Gail Carlson (Jeff) of Trochu, AB. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Clayton Koppatschek (Alexa), Sage Urevig (Luke), Brooke Koppatschek, Electra Koch, Kayli Koch, Kiersten Koch, Ethan Koch, Deneah Abel (Kyle), Alyssa Brown (Cale), Josh Carlson (Carmen), and Carter Carlson (Sidney). She was delighted with her great grandchildren Kennedy Abel, Olivia Abel, Jackson Brown, and Sofia Carlson.
Dorothy is also survived by her sister Sylvia Davis (Darrel) of Three Hills, her half-brother Ronald Waddell (Barb) of Red Deer/Mexico, her sister-in-law Marjorie Koch of Three Hills, and her sister-in-law Myrna DeFehr (Eldon) of Abbotsford, B.C/Winnipeg, MB.
Dorothy is predeceased in death by her parents Glen and Thelma Waddell, her stepmother Olive Ruth Waddell (Guynup), her brother Robert Willis Waddell, her sister Beverly Eileen Fawley (Waddell), her sister-in-law Janice Emily Dyck (Beazley), and her brother-in-law Gerald Louis Fawley.
Dorothy will be missed by immediate as well as extended family, and other friends who knew her well.
