Dorothy Comstock

Dorothy Amelia (Leyh), 87, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, at Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines.  She was born on February 1, 1935, to Elmer Leyh and Emma (McCallister) Leyh in Bertha, MN.  Dorothy accepted Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior when she overheard her uncle presenting the gospel to her father when she was 14.

Dorothy’s early education was in a country school, then Bertha High School, followed by attending the University of Minnesota where she earned her LPN degree and met Arthur Lloyd.  Dorothy and Art were married on December 28, 1955.

After farming and nursing for 15 years, the family of 7 moved from southern Minnesota to Ankeny, Iowa, where Art completed college to become a minister of the Gospel.  Art passed away in August 1977 from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Dorothy married Donald Comstock in June 1979 and retired from nursing shortly thereafter.  She began her long career of childcare in 1982 caring for many grandchildren and later children from her church family.  Many little ones knew of Grandma Dorothy’s hugs, love, and frozen chocolate chip cookies.  There was always a box or two of homemade cookies in the freezer.

Each of her grandchildren received a baby quilt or afghan at birth and a queen-sized quilt handmade by Grandma as their wedding gift, along with tied quilts just to keep them warm.  She stitched baby quilts as the great-grandchildren appeared and has blessed her church family with baby quilts as well.

Dorothy was never idle.  When relaxing and watching TV Dorothy always had something in her hands: hand embroidered dish towel sets, crocheted potholders, and coasters were among her specialties.

Her 75^th birthday was a surprise party at her own home because it was always clean.  She could take care of 11 children, get them all down for naps, have the meals ready on time, and still maintain a clean house.  She loved to garden and had a large garden until her 87^th year.  Countless home-preserved dill pickles have been eaten at her table over the years, along with the many other canning treasures she toiled over.

Over the years, Dorothy served in her church in various roles: Missionary Treasurer, helped serve funeral dinners, hosted ladies groups, provided lodging for missionary families, and faithfully prayed for her pastor.

Above all, Dorothy was a woman who loved well.  Dorothy did not shy away from sharing her beliefs and morals, yet she didn’t shame, judge, or shun those who think differently.  She was loving and kind.

Dorothy is survived by her brother, Delmer Leyh; five children, Larry (Tina) Lloyd, Garry (Sandra) Lloyd, Linda (Chuck) Hotchkiss, Brian (Dianne) Lloyd, Marlys Collins (Steve Faulkner); two step-daughters, Pam (Bruce) Herbert-Reichenberger, Michelle (Mike) Struble; 22 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Emma Leyh; brother, Rodney Leyh; sister, Anna Mae Beohland; husband, Art Lloyd; husband, Don Comstock; great-grandson, Clayton Lloyd; and step-daughter, Brenda Smith.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, December 15, 2022 at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60^th Avenue, Des Moines.  Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, December 16, 2022, also at the funeral home.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 17, 2022 from 10:00-11:00 am at Zaharia Funeral Home, 102 E. Ciro Street, Truman, MN.  Services will follow at 11:00 am, at the funeral home.  Burial will take place at Nashville Cemetery in Truman, Minnesota

Memorial gifts may be directed to Anchor Baptist Church (formerly Grandview Park Baptist Church), Grand View Christian School, or Iowa Regular Baptist Camp.