Dorothy Ann Johnson Barchenger was born Jan 12,1939 in Pagosa Springs, CO to Joseph Johnson and Stella Franks. She was the next to the youngest of 17 children as both Joe and Stella were widows with 15 children between them before Dorothy and the youngest, JR, were born.
With their father working in the mines and their mother waiting tables, Dorothy was often responsible for JR as they grew up in Limon, CO. She told tales of riding double with him on their horse and racing neighborhood friends and always winning.
Dorothy was in High School when she met and married Clyde Stevens. They had 3 children together. Joy, Clyde and Valerie. They moved to California and raised their children in a “small” town just south of Los Angeles, trying to raise their kids with the same small town love and values they had.
After Clyde and Dorothy divorced she met and married Bob Barchenger and added 2 step-children to her family. Kenny Barchenger and Virginia Barchenger Martell.
Bob and Dorothy moved to Colorado where Dorothy welcomed her first grandchild, Heather. Her family was very important to her and eventually all of her children and step-children moved to Colorado, married and added more grandchildren to her life. Bob and Dorothy were married more than 25 years and lived in Aurora, Last Chance and then Yuma before Bob passed. Dorothy spent the last years of her working life caring for seniors and others in their homes and eventually in her home, as well as working at Parrish Care Nursing Home.
She stayed in Yuma after her retirement where she could continue to enjoy small town life until eventually moving in with her daughter Valerie Park and living in the Littleton area.
Dorothy had attended church as a child in Limon where she first met and trusted Jesus as her savior. She renewed her faith and trust in Jesus after moving back to Colorado and continued in fellowship at the Baptist churches in Yuma and later in Littleton with Valerie.
Dorothy’s last few years were challenging as Alzheimer’s slowly stole her memory and her personality. But she never forgot her Lord or her children and grandchildren and was always delighted with their visits.
Dorothy was the last of the Johnson siblings left as all the others had preceded her in death as well as her parents, her husband Bob, one grandchild Joshua Stevens and great-grandchild Mia Stevens.
Left to mourn Dorothy’s passing are her children Joy and husband Monty Rambat, Clyde and wife Becky Stevens, and Valerie Park. Her grandchildren Heather and Rich Schafer, Jeremy and Jamie Stevens, Michael and Samantha Rambat, Holly Ray, Brian and Kayla Park, Crystal and Justin Boeckel and Kellie Stevens. Great-grandchildren Dalton and Shae Schafer, Bryce and Tyler Combs, Carter Schafer, Kaden Rambat, Logan Rambat, Keegan Stevens, Giana Stevens, Jeron Stevens, Barrett Boeckel and Maverick Boeckel. And great- great-grandchildren Corbin Combs, Kittley Combs and Marshall Schafer. As well as many nieces, nephews and dear friends.
2022-09-30