October 22, 1931 – October 2, 2022

Dollie D. aka Tootie, Darlene Brechtel (Leimbach) was born in Troy, Kansas to William and Mary (Roderick) Leimbach. She was the youngest of 6 children: Florence, (Susan) Mildred, (Elizabeth) Betty, (Mary) Frances & (William) Bill.
Bill and Dollie were close champions as children and she talked about walking on stilts and running trap lines. When Tootie was 12yrs she moved to Aurora, Oregon with her parents, Frances and Bill. In the summers they picked berries and hops. Mom hated picking hops they could really scratch you up and make you itch and burn.
Dollie met Kenneth L. Brechtel through friends while in school. They were married and she graduated 1950. They moved around and finally ended up in the Oregon City area. Dollie stayed at home with her children Kenneth and Catherine until earning her Beautician's License. She then only worked 3 days a week which left her plenty of time to encourage her children to join in activities and clubs.
As long as I can remember she always had some type of project going: knitting, crocheting, sewing, ceramic painting, and embroidery. When her and Dad retired and moved to the Senior Estates in Woodburn. Dollie took up Bingo & Estate Sales with some other ladies and Dad joined in making signs and hauling things around.
Family was very important immediate and extended. Trips were taken to California regularly, Kansas and then there were the family reunions. So much fun playing cards and all the meals together.
Dad & Mom loved to travel especially with Betty & Dick. In the mornings Dick and Dad would take these walks and they would brag about what money they found. So, Betty and Mom started sprinkling quarters around for them to find. They never told them what they did they just got a good chuckle. They went throughout the United States in their motor homes and flew to Hawaii. Mom took 3 trips to Hawaii going to all the islands. We cannot forget the cruises to Alaska & Panama Canal. There were regular trips to Reno and Laughlin.
Every holiday was celebrated. Dollies favorite holiday was Christmas with decorations everywhere. Each year for the past 25 yrs. She set up a Christmas Village. In 2021 the Christmas Village made the center fold of the News & Views of the Woodburn Estates newspaper. We gathered as many copies as we could to show family. She had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to give family a funny gift and something they wanted too.
The last five months Dollie lived in River Terrace Memory Care, in Oregon City. The whole staff were wonderful.
Her husband Kenneth preceded her in death along with her siblings and parents. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.