Dorothy L. Rue
March 12th, 1925 - December 12th, 2023
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Dorothy's Obituary
Dorothy Lois Rue, 98, of St. Joseph, passed away on Tuesday, December 12, 2023.
A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at 12PM, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Friends may visit with the family starting at 11AM until the time of service at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Lutheran Church, 404 Glenlord Rd., St. Joseph, Ml 49085, the Humane Society of Southwest Michigan, 5400 S. Niles Rd., St. Joseph, Ml 49085, or the St. Joseph-Lincoln Senior Service Center, 3271 Lincoln Ave., St. Joseph, Ml 49085. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Dorothy was born on March 12, 1925, in St. Joseph to Rudolph and Lydia (Zelmer) Tefs. She attended Trinity Lutheran School throughout her elementary years and graduated with the St. Joseph High School Class of 1942.
On October 6, 1946, Dorothy married her Chicago friend Robert Rue. She jokingly told her mother that he was the last person she would ever marry--and she was right! They were happily married for almost 60 years before he passed in 2006. Together they operated for over 37 years their businesses known as "The Fabric Shoppe", which originated in downtown Benton Harbor, and their second store "Plaza Fabrics", which Dorothy managed at the Fairplain Plaza shopping center. She was proud of her store and her staff, and enjoyed fine-tuning the skills of her many teen employees throughout the years. Dorothy also held the title as President of the Fairplain Plaza Merchants Association. In 1978, Plaza Fabrics merged with The Fabric Shoppe in the former Coca Cola plant in St. Joseph. They sold their business and retired in 1985.
She was an avid fan of the Benton Harbor High School band under the leadership of Bernie Kuschel and thoroughly enjoyed the many concerts performed by the band during the high school years of sons Randy and Rob. She also loved cheering on her son Richard during his many tennis tournaments and the expert skills he displayed.
Because she loved the game so much, she took tennis lessons in her 70's and had many a fun story to tell about the mishaps.
During their years together, Robert and Dorothy enjoyed traveling with their friends and exploring the states, the Caribbean islands and, as a prize for their stores' sales leadership, a couple of trips to Switzerland to tour the factories for Bernina sewing machines. Dorothy and her sister, Lucille, also enjoyed a trip to Europe with their mother to Lydia's birthplace before her family emigrated to America.
She enjoyed playing her piano, reading historic books, completing crossword puzzles, and competing in bridge tournaments at the St. Joseph-Lincoln Senior Service Center. Telling jokes were a staple in her conversations with friends, old and new. Those who got to enjoy her sense of humor got "oflocky".
As one of her favorite outings, Dorothy (aka "Mops") delighted in sharing a cosmo--or two--at Tosi's with her granddaughter, Robyn. She loved to reminisce about showing card tricks and playing Rummikub on her back porch with her grandson, Bryon. She enjoyed hearing about the lives of her faraway grandsons, Regan and Riley. Having the ultimate blessings of great-granddaughters made shopping more fun as she couldn't spoil them enough.
Dorothy is survived by her sons - Richard Rue of Scotts Valley, CA, Randy (Donna) Rue of St. Joseph, Ml, and Rob (Renee) Rue of Norcross, GA; grandchildren - Robyn Rue of Chicago, IL, Bryon (Lauren) Rue of South Barrington, IL, Regan (Brandy) Rue of Aurora, CO, and Riley Rue of Norcross, GA; great-grandchildren - Brooklyn, Madison and Nora; her nieces - Marilee (Wayne) McLeod, Jan (Mike) Dana, Gail (Tim) Crowley, and Julie Mendel. She also was loved and adored by her long-time friend, Laurie Weimer.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband Robert, parents Rudolph and Lydia Tefs, and siblings Reinhold Tefs, Evelyn Neubauer, Lucille Mendel Marchan, and Edward Tefs.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services, 269-556-9450. Her remains have been laid to rest next to Robert at Riverview Cemetery.
A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at 12PM, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Friends may visit with the family starting at 11AM until the time of service at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Lutheran Church, 404 Glenlord Rd., St. Joseph, Ml 49085, the Humane Society of Southwest Michigan, 5400 S. Niles Rd., St. Joseph, Ml 49085, or the St. Joseph-Lincoln Senior Service Center, 3271 Lincoln Ave., St. Joseph, Ml 49085. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Dorothy was born on March 12, 1925, in St. Joseph to Rudolph and Lydia (Zelmer) Tefs. She attended Trinity Lutheran School throughout her elementary years and graduated with the St. Joseph High School Class of 1942.
On October 6, 1946, Dorothy married her Chicago friend Robert Rue. She jokingly told her mother that he was the last person she would ever marry--and she was right! They were happily married for almost 60 years before he passed in 2006. Together they operated for over 37 years their businesses known as "The Fabric Shoppe", which originated in downtown Benton Harbor, and their second store "Plaza Fabrics", which Dorothy managed at the Fairplain Plaza shopping center. She was proud of her store and her staff, and enjoyed fine-tuning the skills of her many teen employees throughout the years. Dorothy also held the title as President of the Fairplain Plaza Merchants Association. In 1978, Plaza Fabrics merged with The Fabric Shoppe in the former Coca Cola plant in St. Joseph. They sold their business and retired in 1985.
She was an avid fan of the Benton Harbor High School band under the leadership of Bernie Kuschel and thoroughly enjoyed the many concerts performed by the band during the high school years of sons Randy and Rob. She also loved cheering on her son Richard during his many tennis tournaments and the expert skills he displayed.
Because she loved the game so much, she took tennis lessons in her 70's and had many a fun story to tell about the mishaps.
During their years together, Robert and Dorothy enjoyed traveling with their friends and exploring the states, the Caribbean islands and, as a prize for their stores' sales leadership, a couple of trips to Switzerland to tour the factories for Bernina sewing machines. Dorothy and her sister, Lucille, also enjoyed a trip to Europe with their mother to Lydia's birthplace before her family emigrated to America.
She enjoyed playing her piano, reading historic books, completing crossword puzzles, and competing in bridge tournaments at the St. Joseph-Lincoln Senior Service Center. Telling jokes were a staple in her conversations with friends, old and new. Those who got to enjoy her sense of humor got "oflocky".
As one of her favorite outings, Dorothy (aka "Mops") delighted in sharing a cosmo--or two--at Tosi's with her granddaughter, Robyn. She loved to reminisce about showing card tricks and playing Rummikub on her back porch with her grandson, Bryon. She enjoyed hearing about the lives of her faraway grandsons, Regan and Riley. Having the ultimate blessings of great-granddaughters made shopping more fun as she couldn't spoil them enough.
Dorothy is survived by her sons - Richard Rue of Scotts Valley, CA, Randy (Donna) Rue of St. Joseph, Ml, and Rob (Renee) Rue of Norcross, GA; grandchildren - Robyn Rue of Chicago, IL, Bryon (Lauren) Rue of South Barrington, IL, Regan (Brandy) Rue of Aurora, CO, and Riley Rue of Norcross, GA; great-grandchildren - Brooklyn, Madison and Nora; her nieces - Marilee (Wayne) McLeod, Jan (Mike) Dana, Gail (Tim) Crowley, and Julie Mendel. She also was loved and adored by her long-time friend, Laurie Weimer.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband Robert, parents Rudolph and Lydia Tefs, and siblings Reinhold Tefs, Evelyn Neubauer, Lucille Mendel Marchan, and Edward Tefs.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services, 269-556-9450. Her remains have been laid to rest next to Robert at Riverview Cemetery.
Memorial Contributions
Grace Lutheran Church- St. Joseph
Humane Society of Southwest Michigan
St. Joseph-Lincoln Senior Service Center
Service Details
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