Dorothy Winona Davids, “Aunt Dot,”passed to the spirit world Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014, at the Ella Besaw Center, Mohheconnuck Road, Stockbridge-Indian Reservation, Bowler, at the age of 91.
Dorothy was born on May 2, 1923, on the banks of Big Lake in the town of Red Springs to the late Elmer and Eureka (Jourdan) Davids. She attended schools at the Lutheran Indian Mission and Lakeside School, Shawano High School and graduated from Bowler High School in 1941. In 1945 she earned a bachelor's degree in education from Wisconsin State Teacher’s College in Stevens Point, being the first Native American to earn a degree there.
After 16 years as an elementary and junior high school teacher, where she encouraged her students to be involved in running her classroom, Dorothy entered the world of Native American causes, beginning with working with the National Congress of American Indians in 1961. She earned her Master of Science degree in education and human development from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1961, and also took classes at several other universities. She spent much of her professional life as an advocate for the Native American people and issues, having a wide personal knowledge of Native American literature and resources. She made a number of contributions toward the development of curriculum for and about native people. She helped establish the Arvid E. Miller Memorial Library-Museum in 1974. In 1985, Dorothy retired from the University of Wisconsin- Extension in Madison, where she had served 19 years as an associate professor in education and community development. During those years she had worked throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest with Native American communities.
After moving back to her own reservation in Red Springs, she and her friend and partner, Ruth Gudinas, established a consulting partnership called Full Circle: Education for a Diverse Society that focused on workshops and retreats in multicultural education. She received many awards over the years, including most recently alumni recognition as a lifelong educator from the UW Board of Regents.
Aunt Dot was an author, poet, teacher, educator, speaker, community developer, counselor, peacemaker, an activist for peace and justice and benefactor. Her wisdom, knowledge, generosity and kindness will be missed by all who knew her.
Dorothy is survived by her sisters, Marion (Bob) Shubinski and Corrine Kroening; her brothers, Elmer (Donna) Davids Jr. and Bruce (Joanne) Davids.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Bernice Miller Pigeon, Margaret Raasch and Lois Cornelius; her brother, Glenn Davids Sr.; and her dear friend and partner of 50 years who just passed away a month ago, Ruth Gudinas. She is further survived by numerous nieces, nephews and friends, all who affectionately called her Aunt Dot.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014, at the Lutheran Church of the Wilderness with the Rev. Melinda Shriner officiating. Visitation was held at the church on Monday from 2-8 p.m. and on Tuesday after 10 a.m. until the time of the service. A celebration will be held Nov. 15, 2014, to honor and celebrate the lives of both Dorothy Davids and Ruth Gudinas at the Many Trails Banquet Hall, Gresham.
Swedberg Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.
The family wishes to thank the staffs of the Ella Besaw Center, especially manager Bill Terrio, Pine Manor Nursing Home and Unity Hospice for their loving care and attention to our Aunt Dot over the past year and a half.
Memorials should be directed to the scholarship fund.