Dorthea Gill Daniels

Dorthea passed away on September 29th, 2023 in Sioux Falls, SD after a lengthy illness. Dorthea Michelle Gill was born on Thursday, September 27, 1962 to Moses and Dorothy (Seaboy) Gill. She was affectionately known as “canpa win” (Chokecherry girl), by her father. She was named Dorthea by her father because she looked so much like her mother.

Dorthea’s story began at Enemy Swim Lake, the second youngest of 14 children. A product of a yours, mine, and ours family, consisting of seven older brothers, five older sisters and one younger sister. Her younger days were spent having sleepy summer mornings, weeding the garden, playing follow the leader and hide and seek, riding bikes, and running (walking) on the gravel road to Toka Bay to swim as a reward for weeding. She enjoyed many picnics at Toka Bay, swimming and playing with her cousins. School days consisted of walking to the bus stop at the end of road in the mornings and walking home after school with her brother and sisters, and yes even walking through the snow to school uphill. Dorthea attended school at Enemy Swim Day School, her cousin Rachel being her buddy throughout her Enemy Swim Day School days. During the summer & winter, Dorthea could be heard practicing the piano on the porch in the late afternoons and evenings. She took piano lessons from Mrs. Hanson, for many years. Her high school years were spent in Sisseton, graduating from Sisseton High School in 1980.

She met her husband John Daniels in Sioux Falls while working at Dakota Kitchen and Bath Cabinetry. They married in 2000. Dorthea and John had a few fur babies through the years, Hooter (lab mix), Smitty (shepherd), Axel (chocolate lab), and Dixie (coon hound) throughout their life together. All their dogs had a good life with them, going on camping trips to the Black Hills, Enemy Swim Lake, Lake Poinsett and state parks and to local dog parks for walks.

Dorthea will be remembered for her sense of humor; she could always see the funny side of life. She was known for her love of card games - whist, hearts, spades, pinochle, and cribbage being her favorite. She was unbeaten at cribbage, if you won it was because she let you win, but that was rare that she let a person win. Known among family as a fierce competitor, she was also fierce in her love for her family. Dorthea could always be counted on to lend a helping hand. Generosity was something she learned from her mother and father, who stressed the importance of being a good relative.

Left to miss her every day is her husband John Daniels of Sioux Falls, Hunka Sister Sue Brown, Sioux Falls, SD, siblings; Dedria (Richard) Keeble, Sisseton, SD, Delight Morano of Buffalo, NY, Shirley (Harold) Binkley, Graysville, TN, Jonothon (Victoria) Gill, Albuquerque, NM, James (Marsha) Whitted, Enemy Swim, SD, Dennis Gill (Waziyata Win), Granite Falls, MN, Vivian Gill-Chasing Hawk, Sisseton, SD , Nadine Contreras, Enemy Swim, SD, Moses Gill II, Watertown, SD, and Fern Gill, Watertown, SD; an aunt; along with many nieces and nephews, and a huge number of grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Dorthea was preceded in death by her parents, paternal grandparents Matthew and Jenny (Bear) Gill and maternal grandparents Didymus Seaboy and Vivian Renville. Uncles Joe, David, Danny, and Dayton Seaboy, Donald, Chris, & Matthew Gill Jr. Aunts Rita Thompson, Naomi Keeble, Phoebe Means, Verna Arcoren, Effie Gill,  Jeanette (Seaboy) Varnes and Exilda Seaboy. Brothers Bruce, Jerry, & David. Nieces Heather Whitted, Miranda Gill, and Jessica Gill. Nephews Bruce Gill, Matthew Goodsell, Alek Gill, and Moses Gill III.

Interment will be at Toka Bay, Enemy Swim Lake, SD at a later date.