Dorothy Irene Pennel, age 90, passed away peacefully on May 2, 2025, in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Born on December 24, 1934, in Dewey, Custer County, South Dakota, Dorothy was the daughter of Leslie Monroe Parsons and Verna Irene (Stanton) Parsons. She grew up in a large and close-knit family that shaped her enduring values of hard work and devotion to loved ones.

Dorothy married Charles Edward Pennel, with whom she shared many years of partnership and family life before his passing. She is survived by her 4 children: daughters Margaret Gant and husband Mark, Susan Lamb, and husband Don, sons Thomas Pennel and special friend Martha Terry, Gerald Pennel and wife Anita. Her legacy continues through her 13 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and 4 1/2 great great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews who were touched by her warmth and presence.

She is also remembered fondly by her sisters Ethel Osmotherly, Sandra Osmotherly, Sisters-in-law Shirley Parsons, Janice Parsons, Linda Parsons, Virginia Pennel, Lois Halley and Letah Sauer.

Dorothy was a woman of remarkable energy and creativity. She had a deep love for gardening and kept her home filled with thriving houseplants, a testament to her nurturing spirit. She found joy in crafts of all kinds, from sewing to handmade decorations. Jigsaw puzzles challenged her mind, while card games and word games brought laughter to gatherings with friends and family.

Cooking was another way Dorothy expressed her love, family get-togethers were often centered around meals she prepared with care. These moments became cherished traditions that brought generations together under one roof.

She was preceded in death by her husband Charles Pennel; her parents Leslie and Verna Parsons; brothers Arthur, Everett, Donald, James, and Norman Parsons; and sisters Carol Lulf and Donna Parsons, Grandsons Josh and John Lamb, Great Granddaughter Isabella Pennel and Daughter-in-law Connie Pennel.

Dorothy's life was rich with simple joys and the enduring love of family. May her memory bring comfort to those who knew her.

Memorial service will be held 1:00 p.m, Saturday, August 16, 2025 at Chamberlain McColleys Funeral Home in Custer, SD.

Contributions can be made to the Custer County Library, Custer SD