Ellis County Obituaries

Dorothy Mae File

6 May 1927 - 4 Mar 2016

© BILLINGS FUNERAL HOME
Date unknown
(permission granted)
Submitted by: Ann Weber

Funeral: 11:00 AM Friday, March 4th, 2016 Liberty Baptist Church of Fargo Interment: Friday, March 4th, 2016 Fargo Cemetery

Dorothy Mae File, age 88 went to be with her Lord on February 25,2016 at Mooreland Heritage manor. A memorial service will be held at Liberty Baptist Church in Fargo on Friday, March 4,2016 at 11:00 AM with Reverend Don Smith officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of the Billings Funeral Home.

Dorothy was born May 6, 1927, daughter of Kurt and Edith (Stahlman) Schickedanz. She was raised on her parent’s farm south of Fargo with three brothers, Leo, Donald and Paul Schickedanz. She graduated from Fargo Highschool in 1945. On May 26, 1945 she married Raymond File and they lived on a farm southeast of Fargo. They had three children, Janice, Joyce and Rodney. They survived many lean years on the farm from drought, hail, etc. In 1947 they were hit by the Woodward tornado. They were inside the house when the roof was blown off. On the other side of the farm their new combine was destroyed. A couple of years later, they were hit again by a tornado causing more damage to their home. But they kept rebuilding and the farm became a place of many wonderful memories where they raised their children, a place grandchildren and great-grandchildren loved to visit for over 68 years.

Dorothy loved music. She learned to play the piano from her grandmother Stahlman. Her grandmother was the area music teacher, driving around in horse and buggy giving piano lessons. She followed her grandmother and mother as the pianist for Liberty Baptist Church, originally located in the country south of Fargo. When the church moved into town, she became the church organist. She played until 2013 when she and Raymond moved to Woodward. During the 50’s she was the accompanist for the Ellis County Women’s Chorus and she participated in the 6 and 8 Piano Festivals in Woodward. she played for countless weddings, funerals and other community events.

In 1954 Dorothy began teaching piano lessons at the Carpenter Music Store in downtown Woodward. During the 60’s she also taught accordion lessons. She started an accordion band that performed for Western State Hospital, area churches and various community events. One time she took some of her accordion students on the train to Duquoin, ILL. for a special music camp. She took piano students to music competitions for many years and they consistently won top honors. Through the years she has taught students from Ellis, Woodward, Harper, and Dewey counties. She had to quit teaching in 2013 because of failing health. For over 59 years she gave the wonderful gift of music to hundreds of people. (IF YOU ARE A FORMER STUDENT OF DOROTHY’S THE FAMILY WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU ON THE BILLINGS FUNERAL HOME MEMORY SITE)

Dorothy and Raymond enjoyed traveling. They went to California, Florida, Hawaii, Alaska, New York and Washington DC. They joined the senior group from First Baptist Church and also made many trips with them.

It was a sad day in May 2013 when because of failing health, they had to leave the farm where they had lived all of their married life together. They moved to Providence Place Retirement Center in Woodward and then in Feb 2015 moved to Mooreland Heritage Manor. After 70 years of marriage, Raymond passed away on June 27, 2015. Dorothy was also preceded in death by her parents, and youngest brother, Paul Schickedanz.

She is survived by daughters, Janice Smith and husband, Don of Gage, Joyce Adams and husband, Howard of Fargo, Son, Rodney File and wife, Robin of Euless, Texas, two brothers, Leo Schickedanz of Shattuck and Donald Schickedanz and wife, Laverne of Oklahoma City. Five Grandchildren, Scott Adams, wife, Debbie of Fargo, Trisha Smith of Gage, Shawn Adams, wife, Angela of Shattuck, Crystal Cripps, husband, Dillon of Crowley, Tx, Rachel File of Fort Leonardwood, Mo, Micheline Hynes of Azle, Tx. Six great-grandchildren, Riley Adams, Shawna Adams, Savannah, Noel, Zion and Serenity Cripps.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Faith Hospice with the funeral home accepting the donations.