Dotty passed away peacefully on June 10, 2015.
She was born July 11,1933, to Oliver Kempf Sr. and Florence Schaefer, on Staten Island, New York. She graduated from Curtis High School and then matriculated at Teachers College, Columbia University, receiving her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
She initially taught at Flower Fifth Avenue Hospital in Harlem, New York, where she met James H. Armstrong Sr., a senior medical student.
They were soon married and moved to upstate New York where Dotty taught nursing at Albany Medical Center. Dr. Armstrong was then commissioned as an officer and assigned to the Naval Flight Station at Patuxent River, Maryland. Dotty embarked on her second career as a devoted spouse, mother and community activist.
In 1963, being the adventurous sort, Dotty agreed to journey west to Montana. The cross country trek occurred within a silver Chevrolet station wagon-VW bug, English Setter puppy, 18 month old daughter, Ridie, and a 6 month old son, Jamie, in tow.
After raising her young children and seeing them through their various pursuits, she became a founding member of the Mental Health Center, the Flathead Valley Chemical Dependency Center and the Youth Guidance Home in Kalispell. In recognition for her community activism, she was awarded Kalispell’s Woman of the Year in 1976.
She became an Eider at the First Presbyterian Church and served on various regional and national committees for the Presbyterian Church USA. Dotty, committed to her principles, was instrumental in petitioning and lobbying the state legislature in opposition to the introduction of gambling in Montana, she was a longstanding board member for the United Way of Kalispell.
Dotty was an accomplished cook and enjoyed entertaining friends at the family home.
In 1997, she suffered from a brain aneurysm but after surgery and a long fight was able to live independently, and pursued Duplicate Bridge with a passion. She was an avid advocate for the brain injury support group.
Dotty was always Intellectually inclined and a strong proponent for Peace, she recognized that without justice and reconciliation, human rights accomplishments might never come to fruition. She frequently challenged the status quo and at times conventional thought — a strong-minded woman, not to mention a proud member of the Red Hat Society.
She was preceded in death two years earlier by her brother Oliver “Buddy” Kempf. Dotty is survived by her children, Maria “Ridie” Armstrong of Aspen, Colorado, and Jamie Armstrong of Missoula. She has four grandchildren — Michela Millette, Katherine Millette, Sarah Armstrong and Eric Armstrong.
A memorial service and celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 26 at the First Presbyterian Church of Kalispell.