Dorothy Rofinot's Obituary
Dorothy was born in Rainier OR in May of 1930 to Lloyd A. Wegner & his wife, Marie Wegner Rice. Dorothy lived her early life in St Helens attending John Gumm Elementary through the 5th grade. At that time, she and her sister, Anna Mae (Kearsley), went to live in Beaver Homes with their paternal grandparents, Lawrence & Josephine Wegner, on their farm. From there, the girls and their grandparents moved to Scappoose where Dorothy graduated from high school in 1948. She went on to attend a year of college at Oregon State College (now OSU) studying home economics. OSC is also where she learned to bowl and developed one of the biggest interests of her life.
In November 1950, Dorothy married her high school sweetheart, George Waggoner. They had two daughters, Stephanie Ann (Johnson) in January 1952 and Arliss Renee (Wallace) in September 1953. The family lived in St Helens for many years. George & Dorothy divorced in 1969.
Dorothy was married to Richard Finlay in July 1972. They enjoyed travel and many outdoor activities together. Dick passed away in January 1975.
Dorothy married Frank Rofinot in April 1975. They traveled around the United States and enjoyed their commitment to the Avion Travel Trailer Club. Dorothy & Frank enjoyed boating on “The Mistress” on the Columbia River and north into Canada and fishing nearby, in the ocean and in Alaska. They went hunting in Greenhorn where they stayed at the family cabin and had good times with family and special friends. They made a fun trip to Australia, Tazmania, and New Zealand and a Caribbean cruise. Sadly, Frank passed away in September 1990 while they were touring with their Avion trailer group around the state of Oregon.
Dorothy worked most of her adult life outside the home. She worked in retail sales around the city, for a local attorneys’ office, at Oregon Trail Lanes, at St Helens City Hall, and at Rofinot Mobil/BP Oil Company.
Dorothy bowled in a league her entire adult life, most of it on teams/leagues with other family members. In 1968 she rolled a 298 leaving the 8-10 split in the 10th. She worked at Oregon Trail Lanes when it opened and taught children to bowl at Saturday mornings bantam league. Dorothy participated in numerous state tournaments and traveled to bowl in several national tournaments as well. She was inducted into the St Helens Women Bowler’s Hall of Fame in 1987.
Dorothy is survived by her daughter, Arliss (Les), grandsons’ Tom (Suzanne) with daughters Abby & Marie and Cory (Julie) with daughters Kendall, Ava, & Lauren. Also surviving are Stephanie’s children, Michael, Christopher and his children Christian, Isaiah and Grace, and her daughter, Candace. Surviving Dorothy also are her sister, Lorrie (Robert) Obermeier and stepson, Wayne (Margaret) Rofinot and their children, Wayne Jr with his son, Christopher (Kelcie) and their daughter, Josi with sons Derek and Dalton. She is also survived by her stepson Dennis’ daughters, Michelle and her daughters Paige & Alexis, and Stephanie (Paul) and their chlldren Anika, Hazel & Axel. Surviving also is her stepson Brian’s son Keith (Corrie) and their sons Seeley & Isaac. There are several great great grandchildren too. She was predeceased by her daughter, Stephanie, her sister, Anna Mae Kearsley, her brother, Lloyd Wegner Jr, her stepsons, Dennis and Brian Rofinot and grandsons Jim and Ben Rofinot.
Private family services will be held at Kobel Cemetery in Goble Oregon.
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