Hurricane High School

Dorothy Janet Lamb Ruesch - 11/16/2010

Class of 1950

Dorothy Janet Lamb Ruesch of St. George, Utah passed away on November 16, 2010 surrounded by her adoring family. She was born on September 23, 1932 to George Leonard Lamb and Maude Earl Smith Lamb. She married McLaren Ruesch on August 11, 1950 in the Manti Temple. They were later divorced. Dorothy was raised in Pintura, Utah where her family operated a service station on old Highway 91. She loved to ride horses, hunt, and drive at much too young an age while supporting the efforts of the family business. She attended Hurricane High School graduating in 1950. She was an outstanding swimmer and involved in many school activities. Dorothy’s first child, Eleanor, was born in 1951 while her husband was in Korea. Son Robert was born in 1953. The family moved to Salt Lake City where her husband attended Medical School. While there, Dorothy managed a small local store, took in laundry and tended children to support the family. Her third child, Del Roy was born during this time in 1958. Following school, she moved to Ogden, Utah where her husband interned at Saint Benedict’s hospital. Her last child, Janet, was born while there.

Following medical residency she moved her family back to St. George. Soon thereafter, while still very young, she cared for and lost both parents and began lifelong care of her older brother George. Dorothy had a beautiful singing voice and was a lifetime member of the Melody Moms singing group. She was also an incredible chef, seamstress, gardener, and flower arranger. She also loved ceramics, crocheting, quilting, canning food, reading, traveling, and watching the Utah Jazz.

After her divorce in 1965, Dorothy returned to school. She attended and graduated from Dixie College, the College of Southern Utah, and Utah State University where she received a Master’s degree in Library Science. This was accomplished while raising four children and working full-time. Following graduation she worked as the media coordinator at Dixie Middle School for 23 years.

Dorothy’s life was filled with service. She was kind, generous, hard working, loving and caring woman. She mentored, counseled, befriended and influenced countless people during her tenure here on earth. She had the faith to move mountains. Everyone came to her for advice and she was always wise beyond her years. She served as the Relief Society President in the St. George 6th ward and later at the St. George Care Center. She filled an 18 month family history church mission and served as a temple worker. Her greatest service was to her family and numerous friends who adored her beyond compare.

She is survived by son Robert and Pam (Pectol) Ruesch, son Del Roy and Becky (Braunagel) Ruesch; daughter, Janet and Russ Saxton; fifteen grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by her parents; brother, George Prescott Lamb; daughter, Eleanor Grover; grandson, Steven Saxton; and great-granddaughter, Analese Solstad.

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