Dorthea Mae Barentine

Dorthea Mae (Sopher) Barentine was born on February 10, 1928, and died on March 5, 2025, at the age of 97.

Dorthea was the only child born to Audrey and Burl Sopher in Excelsior, Wisconsin. She graduated from Boscobel High School and attended Madison Business College.

She was married to Wayne on November 9, 1946, in Monroe, Louisiana. Their marriage lasted nearly 73 years until Wayne’s death in October 2019. The newly married couple lived with Dorthea’s parents before moving to a farm in Marietta Valley outside of Boscobel, Wisconsin. Three sons were born to Dorthea and Wayne – Michael in November 1947, Greg in March 1951, and Murray in June 1954. The family also lived in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin, before moving to Madison in June 1961. A year later, Dorthea began working for the American Family Insurance Company where she worked for 28½ years before retiring February 16, 1990.

Dorthea and Wayne lived in their Acewood Boulevard home in Madison for many years, before moving into the Taylor Ridge Senior Apartment Homes in Cottage Grove Wisconsin. A few years later after Wayne’s death, Dorthea moved to McFarland Villa Assisted Living in McFarland, Wisconsin.

Dorthea grew up in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, now known as Community of Christ. She was baptized on September 5, 1943, by Ormand Kimbal at the Soldiers Grove Wisconsin congregation. She and her husband Wayne served in many ways throughout their lives. Both were ordained to the priesthood as Elders, Wayne on October 6, 1957, and Dorthea on June 28, 1987. They actively lived out their faith and passed it along to their family.

Dorthea is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law Michael and Jandy, Gregory and Linda, and Murray and Dawn. She is also survived by grandchildren Mark, David, Dane and his wife Tana, Ciara, Christian and his wife Maxine, Andrew, and Timothy and his wife Karyn, and great-grandchildren Isabella and Hazel.

Dorthea lived a long life and touched many people. She was a daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, relative, worker, friend, neighbor, and follower of Jesus. We are grateful for the privilege of sharing life with her.