Dorothy M. Miller, 74, of Waterloo, died at her home Saturday, January 7, 2012.

Dorothy Mae Siems was born May 4, 1937, in Dumont, Iowa, the daughter of Ben and Pearl Bennett Siems.  She graduated from Dumont High School in 1955 and Gates Business College.

Dorothy married Roland D. Miller September 7, 1955 in Dumont.  She worked as attendance secretary at Central and Expo Schools, retiring in 1999 after 23 years.  Always a good listener, there are many students that remember her as having made a difference in their lives.

Dorothy is survived by her husband Roland; son Brian (Kelli) Miller of Waterloo; daughter Deb (Mike Morris) Miller of Lansing, Iowa; son Steve (Deb) Miller of Jesup; 4 Grandchildren: Jeff (Rachel) Miller, Matthew Miller, Emily Beres, and Maggie (Matt) Gaudian;    2 step-grandchildren: Erich Carroll and Raychel Carroll; great-granddaughter Audrey Sue Gaudian; sister Beverly Wedeking, Nora Springs; sister Barbara (Robert) Presley, Oskaloosa; aunt Alice Arns, Waverly; brother-in-law Marvin (Sharon) Miller, Algona; brother-in-law LuVerne (Helen) Miller, Waterloo; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.  Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents.

Dorothy was an active member of Grace Reformed Church.  She belonged to the Women’s Guild, for over 30 years cooked for the Wednesday Night Youth Group meals, was Sunday School secretary, served on the funeral lunch committee, and organized Prime Time and Sunday in the Park. She and Roland received a 30-Year Service plaque from Grace this last October.  Dorothy was also a member of the Red Hat Society and the American Legion Auxiliary and had been very active in her son’s Boy Scout Troop.  She loved to read books and magazines as well as cooking and baking every day.  She collected dozens of cookbooks and hundreds of recipes.  The day would not be complete for Dorothy without drinking a Pepsi while working in her flower beds, basking in the sunshine and keeping an eye on her birds at the feeder.  In late summer she would can Roland’s homegrown tomatoes.  She loved people – while her Mom was a resident at Parkview she would play the piano for the residents. She loved family get togethers, always hosted her family’s annual garage picnic, and looked forward to the annual family car trip to Wisconsin to see the leaves in the fall.  She loved to travel and was an avid collector of souvenir t-shirts.  Dorothy’s greatest hope is that the doctors will be able to use their experience in her cancer treatment to benefit others.