Dorothie Hruska

Longtime Thermopolis area resident, Dorothie Skoric Hruska, 84, passed away peacefully at her home in Thermopolis lovingly surrounded by her family on July 13, 2016.

Dorothie was born on December 18, 1931, in Gebo, Wyo. to Julia (Jukich) and Dan Skoric. She grew up in the Kirby/Gebo area and attended grade school in Kirby. She attended Hot Springs County High School where she took part in many school activities, then graduated in 1950.

Dorothie went to work for Mountain State Telephone Co. in Thermopolis as an operator, and after a few years she transferred to Ft. Collins, Colo., then to Estes Park, Colo. While in Estes Park, she met her husband, George Hruska. After they married, they both took transfers to Colorado Springs, Colo. where she became a supervisor and a trainer for the phone company. She and George enjoyed traveling.

After 30 years in Colorado Springs, they both retired and moved back to Thermopolis in 1995 to allow her to take care of her mother.

Dorothie was an avid historian of local lore. She became very involved with the Hot Springs County Museum and Cultural Center as a member and a doer. She complied lot of history about Gebo and Kirby, and had worked with several committees at the museum. She was instrumental in the preservation of the nearly 100-year-old jail in Kirby, even publishing a cookbook to raise funds to get the jail on the National Historic Register in 2015. She also made lots of illustrations and photo boards to show the public about the history of the Kirby area.

Her hobbies included cooking, collecting recipes and cookbooks, traveling and she liked to watch old western movies to gain historical knowledge. She always had time to help friends with meals and a helping hand if they needed assistance.

She also was an active member of the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, and belonged to the Washakie Museum and Cultural Center in Worland.

Dorothie is survived by her sister Ellen (J.B.) Roden of Thermopolis; sister-in-law Joyce Skoric of Cody, Wyo.; nephews, John Roden, Dan Roden, Bryan Skoric, Mark Skoric, Todd Skoric, Dan and Dale Skoric; nieces, Stephany Roden, Julia Block and Sally Phillips; and by numerous great-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband George in 1999; and brother Mike Skoric.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 23, 2016, at 10 a.m. at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Burial of her cremains will follow at Monument Hill Cemetery. A reception for family and friends will then follow back at the church's Parish Hall.

Memorials may be made to the Hot Springs County Museum and Cultural Center at 700 Broadway, Thermopolis, WY 82443. Veile Mortuary is assisting with the arrangements.