Dorette Billig "Dodie" Cloninger

Survived by husband, Fred Cloninger; children, Mary Beth (Barnabas) Smith, Jack (Natalie) Billig, Joe (Amber) Billig, Sam (Maureen) Billig, Bridget (Chris) Backschies, Mike (Angela) Billig; step children, Eric (Debbie) Cloninger, Alex (Kathy) Cloninger; grandchildren, Devin,Rose, Marielle, Chloe, Bridget, Haley, Lauren, Teagan, Bronson, Grace, Cora, Oliver, Calvin, Henry, Sammy, Georgia, Charlotte, Fiona, Owen, Violet, Lily, Robert, Chelsea, Kyle; siblings, Joe (Shelia) Devitt, Al (Beth) Devitt, Mary (Stuart) Kellogg, John (Patti) Devitt; neices and nephews.



“More Irish than her Brother” Storyteller, Sister, Mother, Friend, and Grand Mother. Dorette “Dodie” Billig Cloninger of Omaha was born October 16th, 1937 in Tea, South Dakota to Orville and Fern Devitt. There are few named Dorette, she was one-of-a-kind. She was always known as “Dodie” by friends and “Digger” by her kids. Dodie blossomed a South Dakota farm girl, danced as an Omaha girl, and retired with an Arkansas boy. She was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend, and always loved by so many grandchildren. Dodie, an avid reader, read every book in the Worthing Library before stepping into nursing school and Sioux Falls School of Nursing. Turning the page, Dodie graduated and moved to Omaha in 1959. Married Bob Billig in 1961 and gave birth to the six Billig kids in a nine year span. The Billigs lived in Dundee neighborhood. As the kids grew, Dodie was always busy in the community. She was in the Junior League of Omaha. As a successful insurance agent, she ventured into and started Dorette D. Billig Insurance and somehow managed to raise and prepare her kids for life. Dodie always kept her eyes open and opened her children’s eyes to so many people, friend, worlds, tastes, and valuable life lessons. As the kids grew and sought out the world, Dodie’s life changed and she found great love in a wonderful man named Fred. They have shared the twilight and love that so few are able to really share. They enjoyed family, dancing, German-American Club, Scrabble, and so many friends. She will be remembered for “being more Irish than her brother” since she was born first, the dinner parties, the Fern Fests, the cookie jar, the fresh stovetop popcorn “squeaky” she packed in the schoollunches every day, coffee cups in Green’s car, making a feast from leftovers, any game, inventive Scrabble words that she described as “a sewing term” or an ingredient in some international dish.



Thanks for reminding us to, “Keep your nose clean”



Services:

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday 10:00 A.M. at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church.



Inurnment:

Graveside Services will be held Saturday, 1:00 P.M. in the Worthing Cemetery, Worthing, S.D.



Visitation:

The family will receive friends Thursday at the St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church begining at 5:00 P.M. with a Wake Service at 7:00 P.M.



Memorials:

The Child Saving Institute or Voluteers Intervening for Equity.