Dorothy M. Westesen

Dorothy May Popejoy Crane Westesen of Olathe, CO passed away on Tuesday morning, Feb. 26, 2013 at San Juan Living Center in Montrose.

Dorothy was born on March 19th, 1914 in the small town of Yankee (near Raton), Colfax County, New Mexico to Edgar Lewis Popejoy and Mabel Lea Wills.  She was raised primarily in Raton, New Mexico.  She married Laurence Earl Crane in 1934 in Raton and they lived much of their married life on the Crane Ranch, near Stonewall, Las Animas County, Colorado, before moving to Denver.  She later married Harold Carl Westesen of Olathe, Colorado in 1952 in Englewood, Colorado and lived the rest of her life on the Westesen Farm, 5 miles south-west of Olathe.

A 1932 graduate of  Raton High School, Dorothy was an avid, lifelong reader and eventually fulfilled her youthful dreams of traveling to many places around the world.  In her younger years, she loved to go dancing.  She was an accomplished homemaker, enjoyed gardening and especially had a passion for flowers.  She is known for being resourceful, determined and full of fun.

Dorothy was preceded in death by both husbands; her sister, Lola Popejoy Waldroup; three half-brothers, William, Ernest and Walter Popejoy; and both parents.  Dorothy is survived by three children:  Wayne Crane of Las Vegas, NV; Carol Hoadley of Montrose, CO; and Dan Westesen of Olathe, CO.  She is also survived by two half-sisters, Ruth Ross and Elaine Paine, both of Texas.  She is grandmother to six grandchildren: Terry Hoadley, of Colorado Springs; David Hoadley of Grand Junction; Jennifer Crane Coons of Cody, WY; Lance Crane of Rio Rancho, NM; Kristin Westesen Ting of Draper, UT and Erik Westesen of Provo, UT.  There are nine great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 11:00 am at Crippin Funeral Home Chapel.  Arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home & Crematory of Montrose.