Life Sketch

Dorothy Elizabeth South Hackworth

by Elaine Tate Bybee (Dorothy’s Niece)

 

Her life here and hereafter was and is filled with promise, joy, and happy expectations Dorothy has gone on a journey that only she could make, and we think she was ready for that journey.

 

Many people will also think of Dorothy as the author of her books, The Master’s Touch and The Master’s Touch II which began with an idea of a collection of faith promoting experiences for a gift for her husband Hubert Hackworth. The books are a legacy of Dorothy’s determination, diligence and patience.

 

Many, many people will think about her letters; she wrote thousands. Her sister, Zelma, who spent her last years in St. Anthony to be close to Dorothy, made thousands of little lap quilts, which our family called “the Zelma-quilts”. Once Dorothy said, “I just write letters.” And she did; letters of encouragement, inspirational tidbits and much more.

 

Life is created of events. Dorothy’s began Oct 5, 85 years ago in Argyle, Utah, near Randolph. Her big sister, 7 year old Zelma, fell downstairs that night. The doctor consoled her by saying, “Don’t cry, and you can be the first of the children to see your new baby sister.” The new sister was named Dorothy Elizabeth for her two grandmothers, Dorothy Knox Corless and Elizabeth Rich South.

 

That same year, her parents, Samuel Rich and Hannah Corless South’s home burned to the ground, while Dorothy’s father was teaching school and no one was at home. Even the barn burned along with the new kittens.  Ambes Jacobsen was raking among burned embers — some pictures, the property deed and a bottle of strychnine. “The strychnine disappeared,” said Grandmother, “I think they thought I’d take it.”

 

Grandfather lost his violin which he played for parties and dances. Caring relatives and friends moved them to Randolph to Dorothy’s father’s father, Charles South’s, home next to the Randolph Ward church. Today it’s a parking lot. Her father finished teaching school at Argyle where he was also principal and then began teaching in Randolph. His students and family loved his retold stories which became more exciting with each re-telling.

 

Dorothy was the only one of the family not to have their father as a teacher. She remembered her first grade teacher and why she failed the grade. The teacher told her students that “if you don’t do as I say, I’ll skin you alive,” and Dorothy believed her. She went to the first grade in Ogden, Utah and passed.

 

Dorothy grew up in the church. Her mother held many responsibilities and so did her father. Dorothy and Zelma often went with their mother on her church assignments, and that is when Zelma learned to quilt. Dorothy was baptized at the age of 8 which was just prior to moving to Island Park, Idaho. In addition to teaching school and ranching, her father owned a sawmill for which he had traded a herd of cows. He moved the mill to Island Park to Split Creek just a few miles from the Island Park Siding in 1923.

 

There were only 133 sawmills in the state at that time. Grandfather and his sons, Ren, Barney and Charlie, and my father, James Tate, cut ties for Union Pacific Railroad. They sawed logs and lumber used for cabins, buildings and the first Pond’s Lodge, which later burned. They moved the mill to Island Park Siding, where a one room school, church, and party house was built, along with a cookhouse, commissary and other buildings.

 

Dorothy went to Idaho Falls for High School, where she met Hubert Hackworth. She worked for room and board and lived at the McCann funeral home. McCann’s left her alone one night and when they came home, she had every light in the house on. Her senior year, she lived with the Superintendent, and his wife made Dorothy her graduation dress in 1934.

Her graduation present from Zelma was a trip to Boston, and she saw the Chicago World’s Fair and came home at Christmas time. The next year, she began her work career, a $40/month job for Warren Shadduck Irrigation, Insurance, and Real Estate business, keeping books, using her shorthand, and more.

 

At age 22 she married, and Shirlene arrived the next year and the next, Robert Allen. They first named Shirlene, Sandalee, but later changed. I loved the name and named my daughter Sanda Lee. Soon Dorothy was a divorcee with two small children and needed a job. She went to work in Ogden in a defense plant, and because of her shorthand ability, she excelled. She came to Idaho Falls in 1944 to her parent’s apartment house.

 

Dorothy was deeply religious and she worked part-time for Patriarch Joseph A. Brunt transcribing blessings. He gave her blessing, telling her “the Lord is pleased with your desire to know his will concerning you. Seek him in earnest prayer and your path shall be made clear unto you.”

 

One June night in 1947 at Pond’s Lodge Dance, she danced with Hubert Hackworth and caught up his news. They had much in common, both divorced, he with a daughter Regina, and she with Shirlene and Allen; he loved good music, dancing, could read and write shorthand, and she could tell he was fond of his widowed mother. Hubert asked if she’d consider going with him and she said, “Yes, if you’ll go to church with me.” Their future changed. They were married in Randolph at her sister Elgie’s home with Zelma and my brother, Bob Tate, as witnesses. They honeymooned in Salt Lake City. It was 1947 and the church was celebrating the 100 anniversary of the arrival of the pioneers, so they went to parades and other activities.

 

Dorothy was working at D.V. Groberg Real Estate. Hugh said, “Quit. You tell him or I will.” She did. Later they enjoyed the Groberg’s when they worked in the Temple when D.V. was the temple president and Jennie the matron. Hubert and Dorothy worked in the Temple 10 years and loved that choice calling. On January 14, 1948 they were sealed in that holy place. That same month they moved from Idaho Falls to St. Anthony where Hubert worked for Albert Schaat as a bookkeeper clerk in his hardware store, then for Jay Browning as a office manager. His friend from former days, President William J. Lewis, involved him in church assignments galore.

 

Years seem to hurry by.  Soon the Hackworth family added Lois Jean, Donna Rae (born on her mother’s birthday) and Gerald Edgar. In 1965 they bought Leith and Ada Beck’s grocery store. When they first thought of it, Hubert thought it was the most ridiculous idea he had ever heard. But they bought it and with their children operated it for 20 years, until Hubert retired in 1985. Today the location is a laundry mat.

 

Dorothy was unselfish, thoughtful, soft-spoken and at peace with the world. She had numerous church callings, beginning with being a Beehive leader in Idaho Falls, teaching theology lessons in Relief Society, and as visiting teacher for 40 years. Once her mother-in-law, Nannie Hackworth, was her visiting teaching companion for 4½ years.

 

Dorothy was the last survivor of her immediate family, her parents, brothers Lorenzo Snow South, Allen South, Bernard Eugene South, and Charles South; her sisters Elgie Larsen, and Zelma Schwartz are all on the other side to greet her. Dorothy has taken the first step into eternity; it was hard to let her go, but the pain (and she was in so much pain) has faded, and we hope she is happy.

 

Today her spirit dwells in the House of the Lord forever bright with all the tomorrows of eternity. Her life has been a testimony of love and concern for others, especially her loved ones, Hubert, Allen, Regina, Shirlene, who is forever for me 22, when she died in a car accident, Lois, Donna and Jerry, your companions, 22 precious grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren, whose pictures are all over the walls in Dorothy and Hubert’s home.

 

I conclude as I began, Dorothy’s life was, and is, filled with promise and happy expectations; eternity is brighter because she is there. May the Lord bless you all. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.