03/31/2012
Dorothy Maxine (Cummings) Vanden Berg, the only daughter of Loren H. and Mary E. (Sims) Cummings, was born on October 7, 1923, in rural Marion County, Iowa.
Dorothy attended the Knoxville Schools in Knoxville, Iowa, and was a member of the Knoxville High School graduating Class of 1940.
She then graduated from the American Institute of Business in Des Moines, Iowa.
On May 19, 1946, she was united in marriage with Donald Harry Vanden Berg at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa.
To this union, two children were born: Ronald and Sheryl. Following their marriage, Dorothy and Donald lived in rural Marion County, Iowa until moving to Knoxville in 1975.
Dorothy served as Secretary for the Army Corps of Engineers while the Red Rock Dam was being constructed.
She then was the owner and operator of the Book and Gift Center in Knoxville for 15 years until her retirement in 1985. During this time, her husband, Don, was employed as a teller and Senior Loan Officer at the Community National Bank in Knoxville for over 40 years.
Following their retirement, Dorothy and Don traveled extensively worldwide. They made trips to China and Australia and visited every continent except Antarctica.
Donald passed away on May 12, 2008, at the age of 85 years. Dorothy then became a resident at The Village in Indianola, Iowa where she was being cared for when she passed away Saturday, March 31, 2012, at the age of 88 years.
Those who will cherish her memory are her two children: Dr. Ronald Vanden Berg of Davenport, Iowa, and Sheryl and her husband, Earle “Chip” Bellamy of Golden, Colorado; four grandchildren: Jessica Vanden Berg, Kelsey Vanden Berg, Caroline Bellamy and Courtney Bellamy; her brother, Eugene Cummings and his wife, Norma Jeanne of Knoxville, Iowa; a sister-in-law, Velma (Vanden Berg) Murr of Columbia, Iowa; along with nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Vanden Berg; her parents, Loren and Mary Cummings; two brothers: George Cummings, who died in infancy, and James Cummings; and her parents-in-law, John and Lois (Augustine) Vanden Berg.
Dorothy had served as a 4-H Club leader and as a member of the Garden Club. She had served as President and as a member of the Knoxville Chapter of Business and Professional Women’s Organization.
She had served as a Bible School teacher and had been an active Women’s Circle member of the First United Methodist Church in Knoxville.
Dorothy enjoyed gardening, needlework, reading, and traveling.