Dorothy (Dot) Koenig, 82, Columbia, formerly of
Belle, passed away Monday, July 13, in Columbia.
She was born May 9, 1938, to Lloyd and Beulah
Ridenhour, near Belle, the youngest of six children.
She was united in marriage to Chris J. Koenig
Oct.15, 1965, in Houston. He preceded her in death
in Feb. of 2017.
Dot was a member of Beulah Baptist Church for
more than 50 years and served for many years as the
treasurer.
Dot spent her young adult life in the homes of many of her siblings
helping care for their newborn children and remained close to her nieces
and nephews from those early years onward.
Once married she and Chris had three children of their own within three
years and their fourth, Fred, four years later. She kept an extensive garden,
raised her young ones with tender loving care, kept the farm books, took
care of the housework and helped with farming including haying and other
tractor work, milking the cow and raising chickens.
Later Dorothy spent much time with her daughter Christy’s young
children Emily and Eric who lived nearby and later used the same sets of
toys to help entertain her newer grandchildren Henry and Oliver.
Dot loved her family, her siblings, her nieces and nephews, Jesus, old
country music, dominoes, her cat Rose, fresh new potatoes with onions
and green beans from her garden, getting a tan from working on the open
cab tractor, visits with her friends and neighbors, taking family vacations,
going on trips with her daughter Cindy, going out to eat, cardinals, Cardinals
baseball, wind-up toys, yellow roses, fresh sheets off the clothes
line, making quilts, Bob’s Frozen Custard, The Guiding Light, valentines
from Chris, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, her dolls, making her kids and
grandkids their favorite foods, drives to hear the first spring peepers,
fishing in the farm ponds, fresh wild blackberries, helping Christy pick
up walnuts, hearing about the successes and joys of her family, giving
presents, surprise visits, the fact that she didn’t have a grey hair on her
head (without getting it colored), and perhaps most of all her beloved and
admired husband Chris.
Dot was preceded in death by husband, Chris; parents, Lloyd and Beulah
Ridenhour; siblings, Walter Ridenhour, Henry Ridenhour, Mildred
Wehrend and Catherine Becklenberg.
She is survived by children, Tim Koenig and wife Maggie of Houston,
Texas, Christy Miner and husband Michael of Belle, Dr. Cindy Manjounes of
Collinsville, Ill. and Fred Koenig and wife Ann of Columbia; grandchildren
Emily Kaesser and husband Ryan of Montclair, N.J., Eric Baumgartner
and wife Tori of Owensville and Henry and Oliver Koenig of Columbia;
great-grandchild, Adeline Kaesser; brother, Don Ridenhour and wife Donna
of Belle; sisters-in-law, Jean Koenig of Owensville and Min Uffmann of
Springfield; and many very special nieces, nephews and friends.
A private family graveside service will be held with interment in the
Campbell Cemetery. Memorial contributions suggested to the family or
to Beulah Baptist Church.
Arrangements entrusted to Sassmann’s Funeral Home in Belle.
