On March 12, 2018, a spring day with the snow-capped Lemhi mountains shining in the distance, Dorothy Marie Mandiloff passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family.

She was born in Denver, Colorado on May 28, 1936, to parents Julia and James Gregory, Bulgarian immigrants. Dorothy's early years revolved around her family, her Bulgarian community, picnics in the Rocky Mountains with friends, and in 4-H clubs, representing Colorado as the State Champion in Canning and in leadership conferences.

Dorothy graduated from University of Northern Colorado and taught first grade in Northern California. Enjoying adventures in San Francisco, the Monterey Jazz Festival and making lifelong friends.

Upon returning to Colorado, Dorothy met a tall dark handsome young man, named Dean Mandiloff, at a Halloween Dance in Boulder. A returned GI attending engineering school, Dean was also of Bulgarian descent and loved the mountains. Married during a short break between semesters, they took a one-week honeymoon through Colorado. The marriage and the trips through the mountains lasted 52 years.

Dorothy and Dean moved to Idaho Falls in 1967, for his new job with the INL. Although Dorothy cried upon seeing the unfamiliar landscape and small rural town, it was here that Dorothy flourished, raising two daughters, Valerie and Christine, and offering many years of service to her community. Dorothy first joined an organization interested in community affairs and researched Idaho state land use and it's funding for public schools, later producing statewide publicity and advising legislators on the research she did.

Serving as the Public Information Officer for School District 91 for seventeen years, she managed all media coverage of school and district events and published a widely distributed quarterly newsletter of District news and bond levy election information. She was a President of the Idaho School Public Relations Specialists and was also appointed a member and Chairperson of the Idaho Falls Planning and Zoning Commission.

Throughout her life, Dorothy's Christian faith was important to her and she used it to help make others' lives better. She served as a Director of Christian Counseling Services and of Adult Ministries at Trinity United Methodist Church, teacher of Stephen's Ministries, volunteer in outreach programs, Bible Study member for over twenty years, Hospice Volunteer, and later held a weekly prayer group for women in her home. Her faith also allowed her perseverance through her own trying times, chronic pain, her daughters' punk and heavy metal years, and finally, physical limitations.

A life-long learner, Dorothy enjoyed taking nature classes at the Yellowstone Institute, delighted in attending a number of Elderhostel courses with longtime friends, and spent time watching educational videos on history, music, and art. She loved to travel, taking many camping trips, visiting mountains, oceans, deserts, museums, historical sites and cities in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, all with Dean. She and her daughters enjoyed several "girl trips" to places such as Palm Springs and San Antonio, that provided many laughs and fond memories.

In later years, Dorothy graciously enjoyed simpler pleasures, including visits from her daughters and their families, the beautiful flowers she and Dean have in their garden, and the flights of bald eagles she watched from her home. She also loved her companions from church groups, Memoirs and Paper People gatherings, and breakfast meetings with friends. Dorothy was interested in people and their stories and made friends of many who encountered her. Through her life, through her struggles, and to the end, she could truly say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7.

She is survived by her husband, Dean; daughter, Valerie (Grant), and daughter, Christine (Troy), grandson, Bowen; sisters-in-law, Pat Niemeier (Harold) and Carol Richard (Ken); nieces and numerous friends more like family than can be listed.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Trinity United Methodist Church, 237 N. Water, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402 or online at http://www.tumcif.org/charity.html, to support community outreach programs in her honor.

A service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 24, 2018, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 237 N. Water, with a brief reception following, then procession and burial at Fielding Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent to www.coltrinmortuary.com.