Dorothy Mae Guderian

Dorothy Mae “Rick” Guderian 96, also known as Ricky, Rick, Aunt Dot, Grandma, Mrs. G, Dot, Dorth, Mrs. Guderian, and Grandma-Dot died Saturday, January 6, 2024, at the Denver Hospice, Lowry, in Denver, Colorado, due to complications from a recent fall.

She was born February 20, 1927, in Grand Junction, Colorado to Guss Rick and Kezia (Jenkins) Rick. She was the third of six children. Dorothy, at age seven, lost her father (age 33), a coal miner in Crested Butte, to pneumonia. Her mother took the six children home to her family in Trinidad where the Ricks lived until Kezia's death (also from pneumonia) in 1946. Warming herself in front of a fireplace at age 12, Dorothy's robe caught fire, burning 75% of her body. She spent months in the hospital in Trinidad until she was finally taken by ambulance to Denver, the situation being so dire that Mother Kezia feared she would never see Dot again. Doctors said Dorothy would never walk again because of scar tissue around her Achilles tendons, but gutsy and determined, she proved them wrong. Having always wanted to be a nurse, her experiences in the hospital cemented that desire. After graduating from Trinidad High School in 1945, Dot entered nursing school at age 19. While in nurses’ training, her mother became ill and passed away. Dorothy completed nurses' training in September 1948 at “The Colorado Fuel and Iron Corporation’s Minnequa School of Nursing of Corwin Hospital” in Pueblo.

Her professional career summary: 1948 Surgical nursing, Colorado General 1948-49 Pediatric nursing, Children’s Orthopedic Hospital, Seattle 1949-50 Psych nursing, Colorado State Hospital 1950-52 Pediatric nursing, Abbott Hospital, Minneapolis, MN 1952-55 Pediatric nursing, Shriner’s Hospital, Minneapolis, MN 1954-57 Mt. Sinai Hospital, Minneapolis, MN 1968-81 Pediatric, OB, and Emergency nursing, Porter Memorial (Adventist) Hospital, Denver, CO

While in Minnesota, Dorothy attended Northwestern Bible College and became actively involved in the Park Avenue United Methodist Church where she met her sweetheart, Walter Leighton Guderian. They married on November 20, 1956, in Minneapolis, Minnesota but they settled in Denver where Walt had always wanted to live. Dot and Walt were married for 58 years until his death on December 9, 2014. Dorothy then moved to Orchard Park Healthcare Center in Englewood, Colorado and resided there (as unofficial mayor) the remainder of her life.

Dorothy was a great jokester, loved playing games with her friends and family, attending women’s retreats, rooting loudly for the Broncos and Rockies, and introducing her children, grandchildren, and family members to others many times over. Bethany Evangelical Free Church was an integral part of Dorothy’s life, and she was a member for more than 60 years.

In addition to her parents and husband, Dot was predeceased by her 5 siblings - brother John Rick, sister Betty McPeak, brother Bob Rick ,sister Mary (Lolo) Pax, brother James Rick – as well as daughter-in-law, Toni Guderian. Surviving are her sons, Bradford Guderian, Bennett Guderian (Andrea), Buckley Guderian (Julia), and her daughter Betsy Guderian Ruckard (Bruce), ten grandchildren: Dylan Guderian, Misha Guderian, Erin Guderian, Nikaela Navarro (Timothy), Jette Hoang (Martin), Keaton Guderian, Sean Guderian, Selah Ruckard, Larson Guderian, and Zion Ruckard and numerous beloved nieces, and nephews.

A celebration of life was held at 4 p.m. Sunday, February 25, 2024, at Bethany Evangelical Free Church, 6240 S. Broadway, Centennial, CO 80121. Those who wish to remember Dorothy in a special way may make gifts in her memory to the Denver Hospice, Lowry, or Orchard Park Healthcare Center.