The funeral for Dorothy M. Bauer, Napoleon, ND will be held Monday, June 17, 2019 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Napoleon, ND at 11:00 AM with Pastor Susan Anderson officiating.  Visitation will be held Monday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the Trinity Lutheran Church.  Burial will be at the Napoleon City Cemetery, Napoleon, ND.

Dorothy M. Bigwood was born May 14, 1927 in St. Thomas, ND, the daughter of Thomas M. and Edith O. (Knudson) Bigwood.  In 1945 she graduated as valedictorian from St. Thomas High School after which she attended Mayville State College. She then taught rural schools in Walsh and Pembina Counties before taking a position as Reference Librarian at the State Library Commission in Bismarck.  In 1958 she became the Bookmobile Librarian with the Bismarck Veteran's Memorial Library, a position she held for the next eleven years.  During that time she was a friend and mentor to many of the children that came to borrow books.  After her marriage to Victor Bauer in 1967 they moved to Napoleon, ND, where she was employed by Logan County Social Services as well as being secretary of the Napoleon Ambulance Squad.  While in Napoleon, Dorothy spent hundreds of volunteer hours at the Napoleon Care Center helping with bingo and other activities.  She had compassion for those residents who didn't have frequent visitors often arranging for them to come to her home for meals and visits. In 2001 she was named the Adult Volunteer of the Year by the North Dakota Long Term Care Association.

The church was an important part of her life, teaching Sunday school for many years as well as being active in the Esther Deborah Circle and Lutheran Women's Missionary League.  She always had a big garden where no weeds dared take root.  Much produce was canned or frozen each fall.  She and Vic enjoyed travelling and spent many nights in their camper, whether fishing at Beaver Lake, attending the Host Fest in Minot, or visiting friends and relatives.  Dorothy enjoyed bowling and volunteered as secretary of the bowling league in Napoleon for a number of years.   During her time in Bismarck she rarely missed an American Legion baseball game and was a staunch supporter of youth baseball both in Bismarck and Napoleon. After entering Missouri Slope Care Center, she and one of her friends would don their Minnesota shirts and watch and cheer for the Twins whenever they could.

Dorothy passed away on June 9, 2019 at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center in Bismarck, ND.  She was 92 years old.

Dorothy is survived by one brother Don (Lynne) Bismarck, ND, a niece, Kerry (Jeff) Gruizenga, Billings, MT; two nephews, Thomas (Sarah) Bigwood, South Hampton, NY, Greg (Bobbie) Bigwood, Lake Elmo, MN; and five grand nephews and nieces.  She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers Ray and Russell.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Ray Bigwood Scholarship at the Park River Bible Camp; Trinity Lutheran Church, Napoleon; Napoleon Care Center; American Heart Association, or the American Diabetes Association.  Share memories and sign online guest book at www.dahlstromfuneralservice.com .  Dahlstrom Funeral Home in Napoleon, ND entrusted with arrangements.