Eminent Homemaker
County: Lincoln
Dorthy Nothdurft is a woman with many talents, a true leader in her community, county, state and region. Dorthy is described as a very special person who unselfishly invests her expertise and convictions to make a difference in the lives of young people and adults.
In the community service arena, she has been a 4-H volunteer leader for 21 years. She has also been a Key Leader providing educational training for 4-H members and leaders in Lincoln County in the areas of clothing, foods and nutrition, home living, visual arts, posters and child development. In addition, she has served on the State 4-H Advisory Board for five years, executive board of State 4-H Leaders Association as president for two years and secretary for two years. She has been a workshop presenter at State 4-H Leaders conventions and is presently co-chairperson of the North Central Regional Leaders Forum which includes 12 states. She has attended several national 4-H conferences. For many years, she was the coordinator of the State Fair 4-H Barbecue and has served as a judge at county and state fairs.
Dorthy is a member of the Camp Lakodia Board and was co-chairperson of the 50-year celebration of Camp Lakodia. She is now helping raise funds for the 4-H Foundation. She is a vocal supporter of the Cooperative Extension Service and has conducted a number of legislative forums.
Dorthy Nothdurft is a 27-year member of the Association for Family Community Education. She has held district offices and served as the State Family Resource Management Project Leader, giving educational programs across the state. She has been active in the Family Community Leadership (FCL) program, presenting workshops emphasizing five areas of leadership in South Dakota; was FCL presenter for a five-state regional program and presented workshops at two conferences in the region. She was chairperson of the Lincoln County Board with the Southeast Council on Government.
She served on Congressman Tim Johnson's State Agricultural Committee for Rural Economic Development and planned programs and provided legislative initiative forums.
Her community service activities are just a part of her life. She is an active partner with her husband on their farm in Lincoln County. She helps with all phases of the operation, keeps the farm records and operates equipment during busy seasons. She and her husband were district winners in the conservation program. She was runner-up for the South Dakota Woman of the Year.
In 1989, she was recognized by the Governor's Neighbor Helping Neighbor program. Her family was chosen 4-H Family of the Year in Lincoln County. And she received the Friend of Extension Award from Epsilon Sigma Phi.
As an active church member, Dorthy has taught Sunday school for 12 years, was Sunday school Superintendent for five years, junior choir director for 18 years, and was a Bible School teacher for 15 years.
Dorthy and her husband, Melvin, are the parents of five children: Rick of Beresford; Dan of Sioux City, Iowa; June of Bedford, England; Jill of Columbia, Maryland; and Dale of Sioux City, Iowa.