Dorothy Mae (Gilbert) Penkava was born on the family farm northeast of Table Rock on April 27, 1929, to Edgar and Mary (Aylor) Gilbert. She was the youngest of 5 children. Growing up she enjoyed being picked on by older brothers, George, Kenneth, Pete and Dwain.

Dorothy attended country school at the Bunker Hill School District where she graduated 8th grade. It was at school that she met her future husband, Elmer Penkava. After several years of courtship, they married on April 16, 1953, at Falls City, NE.

Dorothy and Elmer farmed over 1,200 acres together for many years along with raising a herd of registered Polled Hereford cattle. Dorothy never worked outside the home, but never stopped working. Besides being a devoted housewife, she baled hay, cut weeds in the fields, did livestock chores and kept the farmstead mowed. They retired from the farm and moved to Table Rock in December 1997.

Dorothy and Elmer were blessed with their only child, Rick, in 1961. Together the three of them formed a family that lasted a lifetime.

Elmer passed away in October of 2015 after 62 ½ years of marriage. Dorothy continued to live in their home in Table Rock until July 2017 when health care issues forced her to move to Colonial Acres Assisted Living in Humboldt, Nebraska. Declining health issues did cause Dorothy to be moved across to the Nursing Home side of the complex in 2021. She lived there until her death on September 11, 2023 having reached the age of 94 years, 4 months and 25 days.

In addition to her husband Elmer, Dorothy was proceeded in death by her parents, Edgar and Mary, in-laws Frank and Antonie Penkava, brothers and sister-in-laws George (Irma) Gilbert, Kenneth (Ida) Gilbert, Pete (Dot) Gilbert, and Dwain (Delores) Gilbert. She was also proceeded in by brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws Victor (Frances) Penkava, Emily (Louis) Hubka, Frank (Grace) Penkava, Jerry (Olivia) Penkava, Lester (Agnes) Penkava, Irene (Art) Blecha, Millie (Karl) Znamenacek, Edward (Dolores) Penkava, Helen (Ernest) Holeman, Erma Jean Penkava and Wilber Bucholz.

She is survived by son Rick Penkava and wife Emma of North Platte, NE. Grandchildren Eric Boltz and partner Daniel Garza of North Platte, NE, Sara and husband Tanner DiCamillo of Waco, TX. Great grandchildren, Grae, Poppy and Lucille DiCamillo of Waco, TX. Brother-in-law Alfred Penkava of Beatrice, NE and sister-in-law Elma Lee Bucholz of Table Rock, NE. Countless numbers of nieces and nephews.

Memorial Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 16, 2023 at the Wherry Mortuary, 919 G Street, Pawnee City, Nebraska with Pastor Howard Blecha officiating.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with family greeting friends from 6 - 8 p.m., Friday, September 15, 2023 at Wherry Mortuary, 919 G Street, Pawnee City, Nebraska. Inurnment at the Table Rock Cemetery, Table Rock, Nebraska. Memorials to family choice for later designation. Online condolences may be left at www.wherrymortuary.com. Services are entrusted to Wherry Mortuary, 919 G Street, Pawnee City, Nebraska.