Dorthy Anne Thoms LaVictoire -

August 24, 1930 - October 29, 2022

Dorthy Anne LaVictoire died peacefully on October 29th 2022. She was adored by all who knew her, and will be greatly missed. Her family and friends are comforted by a lifetime of heartwarming (and funny!) memories, and will forever be grateful for the legacy of love and devotion she leaves behind.

Dorthy had an incredible life story filled with adventurous highs and harrowing lows. It is our honor to share a bit about her 92 years here on earth.

Born in Crosby Minnesota to Lauren and Bernice Thoms, Dorthy was the first born girl, and third child of 12. She shared a special bond with her younger sister Lorraine, who died from meningitis at the age of 3. It was a devastating loss for Dorthy and she carried cherished memories of her sister throughout life.

At age 5 Dorthy was badly burned and spent many months in a hospital away from her family, healing and receiving skin grafts. This experience shaped many aspects of her life and influenced her passion for supporting Seattle Children's Hospital. For most of her adult life Dorthy was a devoted volunteer in an orthopedic guild raising money for the hospital; an experience through which she made lifelong friends. Her granddaughters have fond memories of making crafts with Dorthy to sell at the annual holiday fair raising money for the hospital, and smile thinking of how she always made sure each vendor was successful. Dorthy loved to champion the underdog.

At 4’10’’ with fiery red hair, what Dorthy lacked in height she made up for in gumption, resilience, wit, and love. Throughout her life no matter the hardships (of which there were many) she kept a positive attitude and always saw the bright side of things. She never let a challenge get in the way of what she wanted. As a teenager she wanted to finish High School but lived too far away so she moved into town and worked as a live-in nanny, cook, and housekeeper in order to pay her way. After graduating she worked for a local telephone company as a switchboard operator and loved telling stories of all the different conversations she overheard.

Dorthy was 21 when she married the love of her life John “Johnny” LaVictoire. They were married September 2, 1951 and spent their honeymoon in a trailer, moving out to Washington so John could go to trade school. Not long after, they met Fred and Joan Johnson, and Don and Betty Woods. All three couples soon became fast friends and went on to raise their children together, spending countless hours camping, traveling, laughing, and celebrating life as friends who became family.

In 1952 Dorthy gave birth to her first child; a daughter named Kathryn. Three years later her son John Douglas “Doug” was born - right after John, Kathryn, and a very-pregnant Dorthy were in a stalled car on railroad tracks and hit by a train. It was a miracle they all survived with only minor injuries. Sadly in 1959 Dorthy lost her third baby, a girl named Mary, in childbirth and narrowly missed losing her own life as well. Dorthy loved her children dearly and in recent years declared the days of raising her young family as her most favorite time in life.

Dorthy worked hard as a wife and mom and spent many years working alongside John as they owned and operated a service station. She then became his primary caregiver when he had to go on a kidney dialysis machine. True to her tenacious spirit, she did it all with a positive attitude and never complained.

In 1977 Dorthy’s wish for grandchildren came true with the birth of Kathryn’s first daughter Jessica. It was a joyous time met with heartbreak soon after; John died of kidney failure, making Dorthy a widow at the young age of 47. She forged ahead as she always had, and found solace for her grief in her granddaughter. Three more granddaughters would follow over the next 6 years - Doug’s daughter Charlotte, and two more from Kathryn: Elizabeth, and Emily. Dorthy (“Gram” to the girls) was a storybook grandma who only ever had patience and love to give, along with bountiful jars of cookies and candy. She spent countless hours making beautiful gifts for her granddaughters, which often included handmade matching cousin outfits for holidays and special occasions. These gifts remain treasured items many years later and are now worn by her great-granddaughter Maple.

Dorthy worked for her son Doug for many years, as the Office Manager for his business Victory Glass, and loved her interactions with customers and staff. She always had an upbeat attitude and fresh baked goods to eat. She was a bright spot for all who stopped by.

There truly was not anything that Dorthy could not do. From sewing wedding dresses to upholstering furniture, restoring furniture, and woodcraft - she loved to create, and most of all she loved to give it all away as gifts. But perhaps her greatest talent of them all was her prowess in the kitchen. We all have so many memories of the feasts she prepared, the batches of cookies, loaves of bread, mouth watering pies and her famous meat pasty. Every holiday meant a table groaning under the weight of incredible food, which had to always include a bowl of pickles, homemade jam, and a stack of fresh bread slices, on top of everything else. To know Dorthy was to be well fed by her.

Dorthy lived a life of generosity, hospitality, perseverance, and unconditional love, for which her family and friends were made better. She loved us, and we loved her, so very very much.

Dorthy was preceded in death by her beloved husband John, her daughter Mary, her parents, three sisters and five brothers.

She is survived by her sisters Bonnie Misner, Suzanne (Doug) Tscheu, and Clarice (Butch) James, her children Doug (Sheila) LaVictoire, Kathryn (Andy) Milburn, her grandchildren Jessica (Dave) Nick, Elizabeth (Christina Withey) Milburn, Emily Milburn, Charlotte (Paris Gronberg) LaVictoire, her great-grandchildren Rosy Nick & Royce Nick, Maple Gronberg & Rowan Gronberg, and close friends Ken Lenz, the Woods Family, the Johnson Family, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of her life will be held at the Sumner Cemetery. Please contact family for details.

Memorials may be donated to: Seattle Children's Hospital

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