Dorothy Faye (Kiehna) HAAS

KIEHNA, HAAS, KOJETIN, NISBET

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:54

May 13, 1921 ----- September 18, 2018

Dorothy Faye Haas died Sept. 18, 2018, at RiverStone Hospice, after 97 adventurous years. Born May 13, 1921, on a farm near Dows, Iowa, to Louis and Hazel Kiehna, she was the second of four children. She loved the farm and became an expert milker of cows and goats and caretaker of turkeys, geese and chickens, the first of many jobs that she held.

Dorothy moved to Billings with her mother and younger sisters in 1933. She graduated from Billings High School in 1938 and worked as a nanny on a ranch near Helena, then as a maid at the Moss Mansion. After a couple of secretarial jobs, she embarked on her greatest adventure — she joined the recently created U.S. Marine Corps Women’s Reserve, one of the first women from Billings to sign up. After completing boot camp at Camp Lejeune, N.C., she served as secretary to the commanding officer of the Women’s Battalion. During that assignment, she met and fell in love with CPL Richard Haas, recently returned from war in the South Pacific. Her stint in the Marine Corps ended with World War II.

She returned to Billings to wait for Richard, and they were married at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Sept. 29, 1945. During their 56 years of marriage, they lived in San Diego; Phoenix; Great Falls; Prescott Valley, Arizona; and Billings. They traveled extensively and enjoyed camping, fishing and visiting family.

Dorothy was an expert seamstress and quilter, and was always ready to try any new craft. She also served as a docent at the Moss Mansion, sharing her memories and experiences there for many years.

She is survived by her daughter, Judith (Ron) Kojetin, and daughter and son-in-law Carolee and Robert Nisbet; grandsons Richard, Andrew, Travis and Marshall; great-grandchildren Mackenzi, Brock, McKayla and Shawn; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial mass is planned for 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, at St. Bernard’s Parish, 226 Wicks Lane, with a reception to follow in the parish hall. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, or other charities of your choice.

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